Cosmetic Procedures Statistics in 2016

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has released an initial report of their annual statistics. According to the ASPS, the most performed procedures are on the face and most procedures involve fat reduction.

Breast augmentation remains popular among patients being the highest number of procedure performed in 2016. Labiaplasty, on the other hand, is gaining traction in the plastic surgery scene.

In the side of the non-surgical treatments, Botox remains number one (7,056,255 procedures for 2016; a 4% increase from 2015) and numbers will probably continue to rise in the future. The other mostly performed non-surgical procedures are dermal fillers, chemical peel, laser hair removal, and microdermabrasion. The total for the top 5 non-surgical is 12,902,372, accounting for 84% of total non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

It also reports the new trends in non-surgical procedures focusing on fat reduction techniques like injecting and freezing fat. It is expected that fat reduction trends will continue to boost in the coming years.

The cosmetic non-surgical side still has a higher number compared to plastic and cosmetic surgery procedures, considering these are easily administered treatments. A possible contributing factor to the rise of Botox related procedures is that men are also undergoing the treatment, and have raised the statistics. Many predict that fillers will become a steady popular procedure and there could be a growth in Platelet Rich Plasma procedures.

Physician Burnout: Why it still matters

Medscape recently released its annual National Physician Burnout and Depression Report. It reveals that out of the 29 specialties, plastic surgeons and dermatologist rank the lowest in the bunch. While it is no cause for alarm, it is still important to take care of yourself as a physician as some studies find there is a connection to patient care and medical errors as well.

Bureaucratic tasks are the most cited reason for burnout. The second reason for burnout is working too many hours, and the third top reason is lack of respect from peers or colleagues or employees. Burnout is still an important cause for concern due to the effects that take a toll on physicians. Depression also affects their interaction with staff. 

In this regard prior to releasing Medscape’s annual results, a study was published that examined if doctors also sought cosmetic surgery when they were burned out (Milothridis et al, 2017). Liposuction was a preferred surgical procedure as exercise was less practiced by the physicians that took part in the study.

Findings:

• Doctors were more interested in undergoing elective cosmetic procedures because exercise, while an option, seems like a long term process in losing weight
• Burnout may trigger low self-esteem and distorted body perception.
• Women in their study were more interested in undergoing cosmetic procedures.

In the study, the sample size was small, but it shows that there are tendencies to look into cosmetic surgery when physicians are burned out and consider procedures that would result in something instant.

Who is the most burned out?

Women are the most burned out physicians based on the survey. Based on a JAMA article, sexual harassment is also another factor for burn out. Depression also contributes to physician burnout. Even if that is the case, the Medscape survey reveals that physicians’ depression does not affect their interaction with their patients.
 
How to deal with burnout and depression?

Apparently, based on the survey plastic surgeons are willing to seek help for depression or burnout.

Burnout and depression, while crippling at times, can be managed. Based on the survey, exercise, talking with loved ones, and sleep are ways to cope and manage their stresses. Self-care is a necessity for all physicians.

Software applications can also help curb burnout. There’s no exact one application in managing the burnout, but meditation applications and breathing exercise applications or any other lifestyle applications can help ease one’s mind.

Burnout is a common phenomenon across different industries. Learn to acknowledge it and manage and balance work and life activities.

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28779405
https://www.medscape.com/slideshow/2018-lifestyle-burnout-depression-6009235?src=ban_burnout2018_desk_mscpmrk_hp

Powerful Marketing For Your Medical Spa: Social Proofing

Increase conversion rates of cold sales emails through social proofing!

Social proofing is a psychological phenomenon which influences someone to think that you are great after knowing that other people think you are great. It is informational social influence where people assume or conform to other's actions in an attempt to reflect the correct behavior for a given situation.

This is useful especially when you are communicating to your potential customers for the first time, as when you are cold emailing them.

Social proof is also notable on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The more followers you have, the more trustworthy and reputable you appear to be.

Product reviews and ratings are relevant for American consumers. Statistics says that more than 70% of them look at product's site and its reviews and ratings before deciding to purchase a product.

Several techniques of social proofing can be utilized, including mentioning in your email the patrons of your product, perhaps a famous company which is also your client, a famous investor, or the person you know in common in the mail.

It shows your potential customer that others have also taken the action that your company wanted them to take, whether purchasing or subscribing. Research shows that when a famous customer is mentioned at the bottom of the email, replies in the cold email doubled.

In a study of 10,000 accounts at a German bank, it was shown that customers who came from customer referrals had 16% higher lifetime value than those who came from other acquisition sources. Social media has sparked dozens of different ways to provide this kind of social proof.

Facebook widgets that show other Facebook friends that “like” a brand, Twitter’s display of people you follow that also follow another person, and the various ways that company offer rewards for referring others to the brand are all examples of this. Perhaps you might also want to mention present customers with established positive reputations.

These influencers are seen more positively with association. A shared LinkeIn Connection may also be mentioned. It was found that when you point out a shared connection with someone in common, 25.5% of the people who received the email opted in to have a further conversation about the product compared to the 4 % who received the basic mail.

Testimonials, accompanied with corresponding faces, are one of the most persuasive forms of social proof out there. Compared to statistics, stories and real-life experiences by other people are more trustworthy and persuasive because these examples touch our hearts and mind.

2016 Trends: Classic and Elegant Beauty

The year 2016 is predicted to be a time for putting forward a classy, elegant, and modern yet effortless look.

Beauty experts reveal that  the trend is leaning more on the "natural" look as complexions are expected to be taking a softer turn with a subtle quality.

Glowing and luminous skin will be a trend. According to Vogue, the recent call to natural beauty was given a windswept polish this season, with healthy washes of sun-kissed blush at Gucci and Michael Kors Collection meeting the breeze-tousled waves of Versace, Alexander McQueen.

Its all about bright and pouty lips this 2016, with classic reds and browns as "in" lip colors as they balance against a backdrop of a bare skin.

Hairstyles are expected to be going back to basics as natural and effortless look will be in style and buns and ponytails will be given a fresh twist. As they say, less is more.

With these trends, minimally invasive aesthetic procedures are expected to be popular among medspa patients to achieve a more enhanced yet effortless and youthful look.

Non-surgical facelifts, use of autologous fat grafting, botox injections, and fillers are among the procedures that are expected to be a trend in 2016.

Non-invasive procedures which offer less pain and quick recovery are also seen to be popular among patients. 

For more beauty trends in 2016, you may browse: http://www.vogue.com/13359453/top-beauty-trends-spring-2016-fashion-week/.

The New "Natural" Breast - Ideal Proportion is Key

A recent study in the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery reveals the ideal proportions that may be used as a basis for helping your patients define the perfect breast.

You've all seen it happen; every woman wants perfects breasts and is convinced she knows what that means. Why then, is she dissatisfied when you deliver the modifications she's asked for? It turns out there's a new standard of beauty and a new study to help you, and your clients, achieve it.

In a recent survey, 1,315 men and women were asked to rate the attractiveness of breasts shown to them in three-quarter profile.  The results showed a clear pattern; the best chests have 45% fullness above the nipple line and 55% fullness below in a slightly teardrop shape.  Upward pointing nipples, a mildly concave upperslope and a convex and smooth lower slope were also key. Ironically, the traditional emphasis on upper pole fullness is not what patients now want. Round is out, natural is in!

So, how do you transfer the old ideal to the new real? Use these tips to guide your consultation:

• Educate - find out what she already knows about the procedure and use this  knowledge as a basis to discuss the safest and healthiest way to achieve the result. Augment what they "know" with your expert medical opinion.
• Communicate - Eveyone woamn has her own opinions about ideal shape and size. It is also critical to know whether a natural or augmented look is desired. Also useful is a  discussion of implant location, fill material and resulting profile in addition to size. It is also key to help her understand that a naked breast will have a shape that differs from a clothed breast.
• Be specific - Size and proportion alone isn't enough.  Discuss frame size, body shape and activity level with your patient.
• Use images - Pictures, drawings and 3D imaging are all excellent tools to guide the process.

In the end, a common standard of beauty may be ideal, but your goal is to also help a woman be beautifully real.  If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, use her as a collaborator to achieve both of your goals.

Read more about the survey discussed above at: http://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/Fulltext/2014/09000/Population_Analysis_of_the_Perfect_Breast___A.8.aspx?WT.mc_id=HPxADx20100319xMP

Pfizer + Allergan Mega-merger?

In a move driven by Pfizer Inc's desire to slash its tax bills its meregr with allergan will make it one of the worlds biggest market caps.

In a deal is expected to close in second half of 2016 The Pfizer/Allergan merger is likley the largest merger in the health care sector.

As part of an effort to reduce its corporate tax rate from 40 percent to 12.5 percent, Pfizer is negotiating to buy Allergan Plc. in a $160 billion dollar deal.  Operating under the new name of Pfizer Plc Ian Read will remain Chief Executive Officer, while Allergan's CEO Brent Saunders remain in a senior role focused on operations and the integration. Current Pfizer shareholders will receive one share of the new company for each share they own.

Beyond the issue of tax rate reduction, Read also cites greater financial flexibility that will facilitate continued discovery and development of new drugs, direct return of capital to shareholders, and continued investment of about $9 billion dollars in the United States; all of which would make Pfizer more secure in an increasing competitive market.

It all sounds great, so why the discussions and debates?  The acquisition, shifts Pfizer's headquarters to Ireland, resulting in the largest relocation of a U.S. company re-locating production overseas. This relocation explains, in part, the expected tax benefit.

As you can imagine, in an election year, this has added fuel to a roaring fire. President Obama called the move unpatriotic while Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton vowed to push for measures to prevent such deals. The move was also slammed by Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump, saying that such move was disgusting considering the potential job losses.

Job losses aren’t the only issue however; investors had hoped Pfizer would sell off the lower-margin business in 2017, a move now put off by the time required to integrate Allergan. However, after completion, Pfizer will be the fourth largest market cap company in the world. No wonder everyone’s talking.

Read more at Reutershttp://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/24/us-allergan-m-a-pfizer-idUSKBN0TB0UT20151124#yS4ozV636BhWJ42T.99

Revolutionary Single-stage Breast Reconstruction Procedure

This new procedure preserves the nipple, areola and surrounding skin by using a vertical mastectomy incision, a dermal flap for coverage, and a definitive adjustable smooth saline implant.

Hilton Becker, M.D., a local plastic and reconstructive surgeon and an affiliate professor in FAU's Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, studied and developed this procedure as an alternative to radical mastectomy. His findings were published in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal, co-authored by Jeffrey Lind II, M.D.

According to Dr. Becker,

There are numerous advantages to using a vertical incision over a horizontal incision. From the surgical perspective, it allows for ease of access, and from an aesthetic perspective this incision leads to a better cosmetic result with a scar that resembles that of a breast lift procedure. The procedure is minimally invasive as no new tissue planes are opened after the general surgeon has completed the mastectomy.

Procedures that spare the nipple and skin have been shown to be oncologically safe and allow for much more flexibility in implant-based breast reconstruction. Single-stage breast reconstruction will become more important as there continues to be increasing financial strains on our healthcare system.

Elizabeth Hopkins is an aspiring physician and pre-med student who has been mentored by Dr. Becker. She is also a patient of his and shared her personal feedback after undergoing this new procedure.

This blessing in disguise introduced me to a brilliant surgeon whose unique procedure enabled me to have a skin and nipple sparing mastectomy free from animation deformity, which happens when implants are placed beneath the pectoral muscle – mine were placed over the muscle. Being his patient and working side-by-side with Dr. Becker has changed my life and will hopefully change the lives of many others.”

During the preliminary stage of the study, 31 patients with a median age of 51 underwent the single-stage breast reconstruction procedure. They were followed over the course of four and a half years.

Both a low complication rate and implant loss were shown and reported as part of the results of the procedure. Other benefits according to the authors of the study include: elimination of animation deformities or movement of the implants, elimination of asymmetry, less postoperative pain and discomfort, and a faster recovery.

In addition, the natural position of the implant above the muscle leads to a more natural feel.

Currently, both a one-stage and a two-stage reconstruction are available for patients.

In an immediate breast reconstruction, the plastic surgeon places the implant beneath the muscle of the patient's chest after the removal of the breast tissue. A special type of graft or an absorbable mesh is used to hold the implant in place, much like a hammock or sling.

In a two-stage reconstruction (also called delayed-immediate reconstruction), a short-term tissue expander is used wherein a saline-water solution is injected by the surgeon over a period of 2 to 3 months. When the skin over the breast has stretched enough, a permanent implant will be surgically done to replace the expander. This kind of reconstruction allows time for other treatment options such as radiation therapy to be done when it is needed by the patients.

For more info, you may visit:

http://www.fau.edu/newsdesk/articles/Mastectomy%20Alternative-study.php

Juvederm Ultra XC: Year-Long Lip Fillers

The US FDA has approved Allergan's JUVEDERM® ULTRA XC for the injection into the lips and perioral area for lip augmentation in adults over the age of 21.

Allergan's trials show that results last up to a year in the lips, but as always, there are two sides to the coin.

Since 2006, Juvederm formulations were already FDA approved for correction of moderation to severe facial wrinkles and folds such as parentheses lines around the nose and mouth. Then in 2013, the Juvederm XC for age-related mid-face volume loss was introduced.

Clinical trials for Juvederm revealed that 79% of subjects showed an improvement in lip fullness three months following the treatment. More than 78% of the subjects reported an improvement in their overall satisfaction with the smooth and natural look and feel of their lips at one year after treatment.

Executive Vice President & President, Allergan Medical Philippe Schaison said that:

As the leader in medical aesthetics, Allergan is committed to continued research and development in this area. Providing physicians and patients with premium products that allow them to achieve the aesthetic results they want is always our goal. Understanding that the desire with lip augmentation is to achieve a natural-looking and lasting result, we continued our research of JUVEDERM® ULTRA XC for the lips. With this approval, JUVEDERM®ULTRA XC is now the only filler that is approved to last up to one year in the lips while providing natural-looking results.

Juvederm Ultra XC contains a smooth gel formulation of modified form of hyaluronic acid (HA) and a small amount of lidocaine. The hyaluronic acid helps the skin to maintain its moisture and softness and the lidocaine acts as a local anesthetic to improve the comfort of the injection.

While the increase in the time between injections is going to be welcomed by patients, there are some physicians and clinics that might lose income since patients are not coming in as frequently. Additionally, these longer fillers might not be appropriate as a "first-time" filler for patients who are unsure if thy're going to love the effect. There's a big psychological difference between living with a change for a few months and an entire year. Still, the general increase in lenght is a good thing for clincs and patients who are familiar with the effects.

Radiesse: FDA Approved For Hand Rejuvenation

Radiesse is now FDA approved for "hand rejuvenation".

Radiesse is an FDA approved dermal filler for smoothening out facial wrinkles and facial contouring. Recently, Radiesse got its FDA approval, making it the only FDA-approved filler for the hands although hyaluronic acid has been used by physicans for years.

The product, according to its website, can hide visible bones and tendons, making the hands look more youthful and smooth. Radiesse utilizes a safe gel formula that contains calcium microspheres (CaHA). These can immediately create added volume and then stimulate the body to produce collagen which results in volume augmentation that can last for around a year.

According to board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Brent Moelleken, MD FACS:

Radiesse is a great option as a filler for hands. It’s safe for all skin types, and leaves no obvious line between the hand and wrist. The hands are the last frontier, so-to-speak, and often give away the true age of a woman.

Depending on the severity of the volume loss, patients should expect to pay for about one to two syringes of Radiesse at an average cost of $800 - $1,200 per syringe for their hands.

Dr. Moelleken adds that because of the product's pliability and softness, it is a great filler which may also be used for deep filling in the face.

Patients are cautioned to seek out experienced and board-certified plastic surgeon in using the Radiesse hand filler because of the many veins, nerves, and arteries in the hand. During the clinical trials, patients showed swelling, redness, bruising and pain in injection sites.

Because of this recent development, cosmetic doctors may now offer enhancement and rejuvenation for both the hands and faces of their patients.

For more information, you may visit:

https://global.radiesse.com/treatment-options/hands#hands

Filler Injections: Achieving the Ideal Lip Shape

Our lips provide competence to the oral cavity when we chew our food. They may also affect sounds and facilitate facial expression which help us communicate what we feel. Lips also have their own aesthetic value.

Earlier this year, the Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge went viral on the internet. People who took the challenge sucked the air out of a glass to create fuller lips that is said to be more attractive. Of course, everything did not go well for others because many attempts ended in painful bruisings and trips to hospitals.

Sucking glass cyclinders did not make Kylie's lips look plump - it was cosmetic enhancement that did it. In an interview with Cosmopolitan magazine, she admitted using a filler and advised others who want a similar look to try a filler that lasts about two to four months, in case they change their mind and want to give it up.

For dermatologists and Medspa owners who work with patients desiring for plump lips, giving advice to patients during patient consultation may boost patient satisfaction rate.

A study in Germany was conducted "to clarify what it is that makes lips attractive - and whether there are gender-related differences of an attractive lip and lower third of the face".

After patients' lip and chin regions were photographed and evaluated by voluntary judges through a Likert scaling system, the results showed that there were certain parameters of the lips that add attractivity of both male and female individuals. Further, gender-related differences were manifested in the form and shape of an attractive lower third of the face.

• There is a significant higher ratio of upper vermillion height/mouth-nose distance in frontal-view images of attractive compared to unattractive female (p < 0.001) and male (p < 0.05) perioral regions.
• Furthermore, the ratio of upper vermillion height/chin-nose distance was significantly higher in attractive than in unattractive female (p < 0.005) and male (p < 0.05) lip and chin regions.
• The nasolabial angle was significantly sharper in attractive compared to unattractive female perioral regions (p < 0.001).
• Attractive female lip and chin regions showed a wider mentolabial angle compared to unattractive female lip and chin regions (p < 0.05).
•  Comparing men and women, we found that attractive female perioral regions showed a higher ratio of lower vermillion height/chin-mouth distance (p < 0.05) and lower vermillion height/chin-nose distance than attractive male perioral regions (p < 0.05).

Read more on: http://www.jprasurg.com/article/S1748-6815(15)00137-0/abstract

First Implantation of FDA Approved Orbera Gastric Balloon

Following the FDA approval of Orbera's gastric balloon, the very first implantation after its approval has been made by Dr. Shawn Garber.

The gastric balloon has recently gained its FDA approval as an option for patients who are battling obesity but are not qualified to undergo invasive surgery.

According to Dr. Garber, a silicone intragastric balloon is inserted non-surgically in a deflated state into the stomach and then inflated with sterile saline solution through a self-sealing valve once it enters the stomach. The intragastric balloon will remain in place for a maximum of six months. During that six month period the patient will enjoy a feeling of fullness sooner and satiety will last longer after meals, which encourages portion control and helps manage hunger.

The procedure made by Dr. Garber lasted for around 15 minutes and the patient was under light sedation. After the gastric balloon was inserted, the patient stated that she felt full, and the patient was able to leave after 30 minutes. The procedure was performed in the office under light sedation and took approximately 15 minutes. The patient was able to leave the office 30 minutes later.

The patient stated "I feel full" after the procedure. Though this is one of the very first procedure done after its FDA approval, the procedure had already been used internationally for over 20 years.

For more information, you may contact:

Jon Libasci of New York Bariatric Group at 516-616-5500 or jon@nybg.com http://www.orberaweightlosssystem.com.au/

miraDry: FDA Approved Treatment for Unwanted Underarm Hair and Sweat

Good news for armpits or another player competing in the same space?

The US Food and Drugs Administration has recently approved miraDry - the only FDA cleared technology for the treatment of unwanted underarm hair of all colors and permanent reduction of underarm sweat.

How does miraDry work?

According to its manufacturer Miramar Labs, the miraDry System delivers precisely controlled microwave energy non-invasively to the region where the sweat glands reside resulting in thermolysis of the sweat glands.

At the same time, a continuous hydro-ceramic cooling system protects the superficial dermis and keeps heat at the level of the sweat glands. Because sweat glands do not regenerate after treatment, the results are significant and lasting with most patients reporting an average of 82% sweat reduction.

CEO and President of Miramar Labs, Mr. Michael Kleine says that

We believe the potential for microwave energy in aesthetics is exceptional. Miramar was the first company to receive clearance for axillary sweat reduction and we are now the only company with FDA clearance for permanent reduction of axillary hair of all colors. These are both tremendous market making opportunities in aesthetics.

The miraDry System, which came out as a result of more than 6 years of study and clinical research provides a range of energy settings, hydro-ceramic cooling system to protect dermis and a vacuum to stabilize tissue. It also comes with a custom software that guides the procedure.

Is anyone using this system and willing to share thoughts?

Read more on:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/miramar-labs-announces-fda-clearance-for-the-permanent-reduction-of-underarm-hair-of-all-colors-and-subsequent-launch-of-mirasmooth-300117634.html

http://physicians.miradry.com/physicians/miradry-system

High Dissatisfaction among Patients with Atopic Dermatitis: Opportunity for New Market Entrants

Atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema, appears most commonly in one-year old children, and about half of these children will have them when they become adults. Sadly, research reveals a very high dissatisfaction among adult patients of the treatments available for atopic dermatitis (AD). On the other hand, this is a good news for new entrants in the market.

The research done by GfK Disease Atlas on atopic dermatitis covered eight countries, over 4,000 pediatric and adult atopic dermatitis patients, and over 800 physicians. Results reveal that 6 out of 10 patients experiencing moderate to severe atopic dermatitis who were treated with topical steroids are not satisfied with the results.

This is amidst the the fact that about 92% of them said that their doctors explained what is expected from the treatment. Four out of 10 of doctors also expressed their dissatisfaction. Topical steroids are used mainly to reduce the swelling and inflammation in affected areas and control eczema.

There is a lack of options available for patients, making them repeat the same treatment options.This is the reason why GfK Immunology and Dermatology Therapy Director Alison Rose said that there is a huge potential for new players to enter the market and provide with other therapy options.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, atopic dermatitis cannot be cured but it can be controlled. This is done by preventing AD from getting worse, calming the skin and relieving pain and itch, preventing infections, and stopping the skin from thickening.

Further, according to the AAD website, there is no way to determine if AD will ever go away or it will be a lifelong disease, however, it gets milder with age. Treatments, therefore, are very much important in preventing AD from getting worse and relieving a patient's discomfort.

Read more on: http://www.gfk.com/news-and-events/press-room/press-releases/pages/dissatisfaction-in-atopic-dermatitis-treatment.aspx https://www.aad.org/dermatology-a-to-z/diseases-and-treatments/a---d/atopic-dermatitis

Avoid Medspa Litigation Claims = Provide Comprehensive Information

Exceptional patient services will do more than just keep your patients happy, they'll also keep you out of court (or may your stay much shorter).

In a recently decided case of James v. Decorato, the defendant medical practitioner was absolved of liability after showing to the court the the patient has been adequately informed about the procedure that she will be undergoing.

Their case stemmed when the patient and plaintiff Rebecca B. James sued the defendants John W. Decorato, M.D. and Aesthetic Pavilion, LLC for alleged negligence and malpractice by the latter. In her complaint, Rebecca claimed there was negligence in the performance of various cosmetic surgeries which included liposuction, blepharoplasty, lipoplasty, autologous gluteal augmentation with fat grafting, submental and neck smartlipo, bilateral transconjunctival lower blepharoplasty with CO2 laser resurfacing, and autologous upper and lower lip augmentation with fat grafting.

She alleged that there the malpractice resulted in the formation of excessive and severe scarring, non-uniform appearance of her abdomen, concave left inner thigh with pain, hypo-pigmented skin under eyes leaving non-uniform skin color on the face, among others.

Further, she said that Dr. Decorato violated the Public Health Law when he allegedly failed to disclose alternatives, risks and benefits that may arise after the treatment. She said that had she known of them, she would not have undergone with the treatments altogether.

In an answer, Dr. Decorato said that the plaintiff was able to sign multiple consent forms which outlined the risks and effects that may happen after the treatment. The defendant doctor also argued that the plaintiff's argument must be summarily dismissed because they only stemmed out of her dissatisfaction with the results of the procedures.

In support, Dr. Decorato submitted to the court the examination done by Dr. Theodore Diktaban, a certified Plastic, Reconstructive as well as Head and Neck Surgeon. Dr. Diktaban indicated that he was able to review the consent forms signed by the plaintiff and found them all clear and complete.

According to Dr. Diktaban's affidavit,

The forms adequately provided for the proposed procedures, alternatives thereto, and the reasonably foreseeable risks and benefits associated therewith, including the need for revisionary surgery. The lack of an informed consent could not be a proximate cause of any of plaintiff's subjective dissatisfaction, which she classifies as injuries. Regarding the issue on malpractice and negligence, the pre-and post-operative care rendered to plaintiff comports with good and accepted medical practice.

He further opined that the results of plaintiff's surgery were devoid of any functional deficits, except for the purported and subjective paresthesias of the left medial thigh.

These claims were opposed by the plaintiff Rebecca and presented the statement of a cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Richard Marfuggi. He claimed that after examining Rebecca, he can say that "with a reasonable degree of medical probability, the complications experienced by plaintiff were the result of Dr. Decorato's failure to follow good and accepted practice".

According to the Supreme Court, the basis for establishing the liability of the physician is the departure of the physician from accepted community standards of practice and this was the proximate or direct cause of the plaintiff's injuries.

The Supreme Court sided with Dr. Decorato and summarily dismissed the case. Dr. Decorato, with the affirmation of the statement of Dr. Diktaban, was able to show that indeed he did not deviate from accepted medical procedures. The Supreme Court noted that the plaintiff's claim of "lack of informed consent" has not been proven. Instead, Dr. Decorato was able to produce in evidence the fact that Rebecca was able to sign the consent forms.

On the other hand, the plaintiff Rebecca and Dr. Marfuggi's affidavits did not show any medical evidence establishing that Dr. Decorato was indeed negligent. According to the Supreme Court, Dr. Marfuggi's recitation of facts failed to address the concern of whether or not this was a departure from accepted practices.

Note to self: make sure that all forms are clear and complete.

Your Patient's Irrational Decisions Explained by Quantum Physics?

It's a little odd to think that patients in your clinc are making decisons based on quantum physics? File this one under good-to-know.

“Whenever something comes up that isn’t consistent with classical theories, we often label it as ‘irrational.’ But from the perspective of quantum cognition, some findings aren’t irrational anymore. They’re consistent with quantum theory—and with how people really behave.”

This is according to researcher Zheng Joyce Wang who, together with her colleagues, explained their new theoretical approach to psychology. Researchers are using quantum physics to help explain the paradoxical thinking of humans. This allows researchers to delve into certain contradictions in the results of various psychological studies.

Wang says that the classical models of rationality does not compute some aspects of human behavior, and in the classical point of view, this is seen to be an irrational behavior. In fact, in a previous study published by the University College London, it was revealed that irrationality of decisions are consequences of biasing influences.

Wang and her colleagues research revealed that:

Thinking in a quantum-like way­—essentially not following a conventional approach based on classical probability theory—enables humans to make important decisions in the face of uncertainty, and lets us confront complex questions despite our limited mental resources.

The equations and axioms that most closely match human behavior may be ones that are rooted in quantum physics. Quantum cognition is what happens when humans have to deal with ambiguity mentally.

Sometimes we aren’t certain about how we feel, or we feel ambiguous about which option to choose, or we have to make decisions based on limited information. 

Wang adds that:

I think the mathematical formalism provided by quantum theory is consistent with what we feel intuitively as psychologists. Quantum theory may not be intuitive at all when it is used to describe the behaviors of a particle, but actually is quite intuitive when it is used to describe our typically uncertain and ambiguous minds.

Superposition happens when we think of our options and in our mind's eye and all of the options co-exist at varying degrees of potential to be chosen. Then, we choose a preferred option and then other options will cease to exist. With the classical approach to psychology, the answers might not make sense, and researchers have to construct new mathematical axioms to explain behavior in that particular instance.

The result: There are many classical psychological models, some of which are in conflict, and none of which apply to every situation. With the quantum approach, Wang and her colleagues argued, many different and complex aspects of behavior can be explained with the same limited set of axioms.

The same quantum model that explains how question order changes people’s survey answers also explains violations of rationality in theprisoner’s dilemma paradigm, an effect in which people cooperate even when it’s in their best interest not to do so.

So, the next time someone says that you are making irrational decisions, just tell them that you are following the laws of quantum physics. =)

-----

Wang is an associate professor of communication and director of theCommunication and Psychophysiology Lab at The Ohio State University. Co-authors on the papers included Peter Bruza of the Queensland University of Technology in Australia and Jerome Busemeyer of Indiana University, and the research was funded by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

In two new review papers in academic journals, Wang and her colleagues spell out their new theoretical approach to psychology. One paper appears inCurrent Directions in Psychological Science, and the other in Trends in Cognitive Sciences.

Read more on: https://news.osu.edu/news/2015/09/14/you%E2%80%99re-not-irrational-you%E2%80%99re-just-quantum-probabilistic/