Passport to Plastics: Cosmetic Surgery Tourism, Medical Malpractice, and the Automatic Establishment of Personal Jurisdiction by Way of the Joint Commission International

Abstract

For centuries, tourists have visited lands near and far in search of experiences unavailable in their home countries.1 From golfing the best courses in the world, to yoga retreats in remote locations, many tourist activities provide experiential opportunities along with health and wellness benefits. Currently, an increasing number of individuals are opting to cross international borders to receive medical treatments, often at reduced costs.2 While many scholars use the term health tourism to encompass all health and wellness travel purposes,3 this note uses the term medical tourism to distinguish tourism for the specific purpose of medical treatments or procedures. Medical tourism is