Plastic Surgery Ethics: An Oxymoron?

Event flyer: Vercler Flyer

Most plastic surgeons portrayed in the media exhibit questionable moral judgment. After watching shows such as Nip/Tuck, Extreme Makeover, Dr. 90210, and The Swan, one could easily conclude that ethics plays no part in the practice of plastic surgery. Indeed, some have charged cosmetic surgery with being entirely outside the scope of medical practice. Dr. Vercler will examine the distinctions made between cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, discuss how plastic surgeons think about those distinctions, and uncover the different ethical frameworks that support these practices.

Join us for Christian J. Vercler’s lecture on Wednesday, April 23, 2014 from noon till 1 pm in person or online:

In person: The lecture will take place in C102 East Fee Hall on MSU’s East Lansing campus. Feel free to bring your lunch! Beverages and light snacks will be provided.

Online: Here are some instructions for your first time joining the webinar, or if you have attended or viewed them before, go to the meeting!

Can’t make it? View this webinar and others as archived recordings.

Christian J. Vercler, MD, is Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Craniofacial Surgery in the Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Michigan. He serves on the faculty of the Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences at the University of Michigan. He completed a Fellowship in Clinical Ethics at the Emory University Center for Ethics and also has an MA in Bioethics. He has served on ethics committees since 1998, and has taught medical ethics to residents and medical students at Emory University, Harvard, and the University of Michigan. Dr. Vercler graduated from Wheaton College with a BS in Biology and an MA in Theological Studies. He went to medical school at the University of Illinois. He completed general surgery training at Emory University and plastic surgery at Harvard. He then did an additional fellowship in Craniofacial Surgery at the University of Michigan.