Should “Technically Possible” Ever Be Enough?

A client requests a piercing or modification. It can physically be performed, and the client understands that healing may be difficult or that the result may not last. The professional still believes it is a bad decision. Should the client’s informed consent be enough, or does the piercer have a responsibility to refuse work that is technically possible but unlikely to heal well, remain stable, or produce the result the client expects? Clients may argue that it is their body and their decision. Professionals may argue that their name, judgment, and reputation remain attached to the work. How much risk should a professional allow a client to accept? Piercers: what makes you refuse a procedure even after explaining the risks? Clients: would a refusal increase your trust in the piercer, or would you simply find someone else willing to do it?