RCS intervenes to stop live broadcast of surgery
A breast augmentation that was due to be streamed live over the internet was cancelled after the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) intervened, forcing the clinic to reconsider.
The MYA cosmetic surgery clinic in London had been planning to film 27-year-old Katy McLouglin from Leeds as she underwent the procedure, however, after being contacted by the RCS they decided against it, posting this statement on their website: "We have been contacted by Royal College of Surgeons, a body that we respect, who believe that the filming of ‘live’ surgery is not appropriate. We haven’t had an opportunity to discuss this directly with them. But given the timescales, we thought it was in the best interest to not film live."
One of the criticisms made by the RCS was that filming a procedure live “trivialises cosmetic surgery” MYA told the Mirror newspaper.
However, the clinic claimed it hoped the broadcast would be educational saying, "We believe that showing inside the operating theatre and the technicalities of the procedure would actually make the operation very real; having significant educational values."
The RCS released a position statement on the topic of broadcasting live surgery back in August. They said: “The fundamental duty of care towards a patient should be the overarching principle guiding any surgical intervention. As such, the use of live broadcast should only be justified after careful consideration of patient risks vis-à-vis the benefits. Where possible, pre-recorded broadcasts of procedures should be used by preference."
