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A Decade of Lawsuits Against Surgeons Performing Female Genital Cosmetic Surgery (FGCS) in Tehran, Iran

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Abstract

Background

The objective of this study is to evaluate the legal proceedings that arise from Female Genital Cosmetic Surgeries (FGCS) and analyze the reasons why women file complaints against their surgeons. Additionally, we examined the outcomes of the legal decisions associated with these complaints.

Methods

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Tehran province, Iran, from 2012 to 2021. The primary data source for this study was forensic medical records, which were reviewed to gather relevant information. The collected data included the characteristics of the participants, the reasons for lawsuits, the procedure setting, and the outcomes of the legal decisions.

Results

A total of 121 patients were examined in the study, revealing that Labiaplasty was the most prevalent procedure (49.6%), followed by vaginoplasty (19.8%) and perineoplasty (13.2%). The most common complaints were related to cosmetic concerns (57%), lack of recovery (26.4%), and sexual dysfunctions (22.3%). Healthcare providers were found liable for malpractice in 52.1% of cases. Additionally, having the surgery performed by a gynecologist decreased the risk of malpractice (β = 0.21, p= 0.034), while procedures in private clinics increased the risk (β = 2.95, p = 0.040).

Conclusion

The study's findings emphasized the importance of providing women with comprehensive education and consultations to ensure they are well-informed about the potential outcomes and risks of FGCS. Furthermore, the study highlighted the significance of having these surgical procedures performed by skilled and experienced surgeons.

Level of Evidence V

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Acknowledgment

We appreciate all residents and academic staff of the Forensic Medicine department of Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

Funding

Not applicable.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vali-E-Asr Reproductive Health Research Center, Family Health Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Imam Complex, East Bagherkhan Ave., Tehran, Iran

    Tahereh Eftekhar, Marjan Ghaemi, Zeinab Mansouri, Sedigheh Hantoushzadeh, Ilnaz Mohammadi & Nasim Eshraghi

  2. Legal Medicine Research Center, Iranian Legal Medicine Organization, Tehran, Iran

    Zahra Shabannejad, Elham Bazmi & Mehdi Foroozesh

Authors
  1. Tahereh Eftekhar
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  2. Marjan Ghaemi
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  3. Zahra Shabannejad
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  4. Zeinab Mansouri
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  5. Sedigheh Hantoushzadeh
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  6. Elham Bazmi
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  8. Ilnaz Mohammadi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nasim Eshraghi.

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Human and Animal Rights, or Ethical Approval

The study adhered to the ethical guidelines of TUMS and received approval from the Ethical Committee (Approval No: IR.TUMS.IKHC.REC.1401.127).

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All participants provided written informed consent prior to their participation.

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Eftekhar, T., Ghaemi, M., Shabannejad, Z. et al. A Decade of Lawsuits Against Surgeons Performing Female Genital Cosmetic Surgery (FGCS) in Tehran, Iran. Aesth Plast Surg (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-024-03980-9

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