Medical tourism occurs for the most part due to economic considerations. Patients are not seeking out the best care but rather the cheapest option. Some of the patients travel to recover in island paradises or the promise of that. The Dominican Republic has taken a lot of criticism about its medical tourism industry. The CDC has stated in the past that
“Most health care facilities catering to medical tourists in the Dominican Republic have not met the standards required by international accreditation organizations. Outbreaks of health care–associated infections, medical malpractice, and even deaths have been reported among foreign visitors traveling to the Dominican Republic for medical tourism. People considering traveling to the Dominican Republic for medical procedures, including cosmetic surgery or dental care, should consult with a health care provider before travel and consider whether foreign health care providers meet quality standards of care.”
Though very poor outcomes have occurred in multiple instances, it is a bit more difficult to assess the relative percentages due to not knowing the total number of procedures. Nonetheless, some prominent universities have researched patients morbidities, infections, and complications in several studies.
2018 report from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital-Harvard Medical School and Boston University of Public Health reported that the DR was the most likely country for Americans to suffer complications.
A 2019 study from the University of Texas Medical Branch looked at cases of post-surgery infections over a 14-year period and found that nearly half of them were from DR.
In 2016, US health officials issued a warning about medical tourism after 18 women were infected by mycobacteria after undergoing cosmetic surgery procedures in the DR.
There are many countries to which patients travel for surgery. Sometimes, the patient is traveling for the best surgeon at any cost. Sometimes, the patient is traveling for the best price. Education is always important in making the decision, but ultimately the decision of where to have cosmetic surgery is the patient’s decision to make.
About Dr. Kenneth Hughes
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon · Hughes Plastic Surgery
- Board certification
- American Board of Plastic Surgery (verify)
- Education and training
- Honors Degree, Harvard University (1999)
- Plastic Surgery Aesthetic Fellowship, Harvard Medical School’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Aesthetic and Cosmetic Surgery Fellowship, Harvard Medical School
- BA, cum laude in Biology, Harvard University (1995–1999)
- MD, cum laude, University of Alabama School of Medicine (1999–2004)
- Residency, Integrated General Surgery and Plastic Surgery, University of Kansas Medical Center (2004–2010)
- Fellowship, Plastic Surgery, Harvard Medical School (2010–2011)
- Memberships
- Alpha Omega Alpha (2004)
- Awards
- Harvard College Merit Scholarship (1995-1999)
- Research Scholars Program, National Institutes of Health (2000)
- Top 10% on General Surgery Residency Exam (2006)
- Clinical Trial Research Grant, Harvard Medical School (2010-2011)
- Best Plastic Surgeon in Los Angeles, California Magazine (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
- Alpha Omega Alpha, top 10 in medical school
- State Merit Scholarship, top 10 students in state (2000–2004)
- Ann Margaret-Clark Merit Scholarship (2003–2004)
- Clarence-Clapper Merit Scholarship (2002–2003)
- Madison County Scholarship, #1 student (2000–2002)
- Russell Merit Scholarship (2000–2001)
- Chief Resident (2009–2010)
- NPI
- 1801926761
