title: Cosmetic limb lengthening in a patient of normal stature: ethical considerations.
abstract: Recently, a 23-year-old male patient underwent cosmetic limb lengthening, despite the fact that his height was that of the average Indian male (5 feet 7 inches). The patient's parents and the media criticised the orthopaedic surgeon who had performed the surgery for undertaking an unethical operation. This paper discusses the relevant clinical evidence, ethical aspects and ethical theories surrounding the case. We conclude that the surgeon's decision to perform the surgery seems to be fair and appropriate from the ethical and clinical perspectives.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Pramukhswami Medical College, Karamsad, Gujarat, 388 325, India,. karthik_vishwanathan@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Karthik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vishwanathan
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Pramukhswami Medical College, Karamsad, Gujarat, 388 325, India,. somu_somu@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Somashekhar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nimbalkar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height; D001852:Bone Lengthening / Q000941:ethics*; D026689:Ethical Analysis; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D012016:Reference Values