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Australian public hospitals ban cosmetic surgery |
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Monday, 12 November 2007 |
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Under a radical move ostensibly designed to free up space for what are deemed medically necessary procedures, public hospitals in South Australia have banned the use of their facilities for cosmetic surgery procedures, including liposuction and circumcision.
Health Minister John Hill maintains that the move will release hospital beds and operating theatres for more needy patients. He admitted, however, that the move was not made solely on medical needs, indicating that a political agenda, including a disapproval of certain cosmetic procedures, lay behind the ban. The inclusion of circumcision in the list of banned procedures has surprised some commentators, with many Australian parents opting to have this operation performed on either hygienic or cultural grounds.
This is just another example of the activity we are going through to try to make the system work better, he said. But I guess there is an ethical issue too. Should our public hospitals be involved in doing procedures which are not medically based?
The ban includes liposuction, facelifts and circumcision of boys.
The Health Minister said that he expects some families to be disappointed that they will have to go to a private hospital or clinic for their child's circumcision.
I think some people will object very strongly and think it is their right to have a free procedure done in a public hospital for cultural reasons," he said. Of course there are others who strongly support this procedure being stopped.
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