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Woman Wins Right to Criticize Surgeon on Website

Posted by samzenpus on from the tell-it-like-it-is dept.

Scoopy writes "The website of a cosmetic surgery patient critical of her Sacramento surgeon's work is protected free speech, an appeals court said in an opinion that could have statewide implications. The website contains before and after photographs of 33-year-old Georgette Gilbert, who said the surgery left her with one eyebrow higher than the other and a surprised look permanently affixed to her face. The website was challenged in a defamation suit filed by surgeon Jonathan Sykes, a prominent professor and television commentator on the subject of cosmetic surgery. Although the Sacramento-based 3rd District Court of Appeal only mentions Sykes, the opinion suggests that others who use 'hot topics' of public interest in their advertisements and promotions may shed protections against defamation afforded to ordinary citizens."

14 of 250 comments (clear)

  1. According to courtroom reporters... by CRCulver · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...The woman looked very surprised at the verdict.

    1. Re:According to courtroom reporters... by CortoMaltese · · Score: 3, Funny

      Honestly, she looked fine before the surgery. We could just post the pics to hotornot and see which one comes out as the winner. Cutornot?
    2. Re:According to courtroom reporters... by saboola · · Score: 4, Funny

      That this woman ended up on the short end of the stick still doesn't affect the validity of her tail

      He added a tail too? No wonder she is pissed.

    3. Re:According to courtroom reporters... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      For an extreme example: if a meteorite punches through the roof of a bus, killing the driver instantly, and thereby causing the bus to plunge over an embankment a few seconds later, then who is at fault?

      That's EASY. You clearly don't have much imagination.

      1. NASA, for failing to predict and warn of the meteorite impact.
      2. Congress, for failing to fund meteorite monitoring and prediction services.
      3. The public, for failing to elect a Congress that would fund meteorite prediction services.
      4. The manufacturer of the bus, for failing to include a roof that could withstand a meteorite impact.
      5. Materials scientists, for failing to invent a cheap bus-roof material strong enough to withstand meteorite impacts.

      The list goes on and on...

    4. Re:According to courtroom reporters... by Jedi+Alec · · Score: 2, Funny

      God.

      Next question please!

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  2. Right to Criticize Surgeon on Website by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    When asked for comment, Dr Jonathan Sykes said, "If I had to do it over again, I would have chopped off her hands".

  3. Re:WTF was she thinking? by drgonzo59 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wow, if you told her that she would probably look at you very ... surprised...!

  4. ka-ching$ by binarybum · · Score: 2, Funny

    her website will probably just shift the surgeon into a whole new money-making demographic - men badgered by their wives for not expressing enough interest in whatever it is they're talking about. With eyebrows like that, an occasional tilt of the head away from the football game (or WOW game here I suppose) gives the illusion of intense interest. You're never going to get the "Are you even listening to me?!" line with a brow like this-> http://www.mysurgerynightmare.com/images/ggbae_(2) .jpg

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    ôó
  5. Really? by greg_barton · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...the surgery left her with one eyebrow higher than the other and a surprised look permanently affixed to her face.
    Fascinating...
  6. Other side effect by edwardpickman · · Score: 4, Funny

    The other side effect of the surgery was due to the tightly stretched skin she can't close her eyes when she's sitting down.

  7. Deformation by NiceRoundNumber · · Score: 3, Funny

    The website was challenged in a defamation suit filed by surgeon Jonathan Sykes

    Did anyone else read this as "deformation suit"??

    --
    Diplomacy is the art of letting other people have your way.
  8. Say what? by Grashnak · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hey, wait... You mean there are risks involved in having someone carve up your perfectly functional face? Why the hell don't they tell us about stuff like that beforehand?

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    Life needs more saving throws.
  9. Re:Link to the website by RyoShin · · Score: 2, Funny

    Someone must have invented a way to punch people in the face over the internet.

  10. Who's your Daddy by BillX · · Score: 2, Funny

    The ruling won't help; she's hosted on GoDaddy.

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