The issue of athletes endorsing medical procedures, in
particular LASIK eye surgery, was examined by CNN/SI's Sonja
Steptoe on "Page One." LASIK surgeon Dr. Alan Kozarski
feels "to have [athletes] endorse something as if it's going
to be the same result that everyone else is going to get may
be misleading." Jets WR Wayne Chrebet, who has endorsed
LASIK surgery, said, "I wouldn't have endorsed the clinic if
I didn't get it done myself. If I just kind of put my name
on it and didn't get it done, I'd be a hypocrite. But, I
got the procedure done and then decided, 'OK, this is a good
thing.'" But CNN/SI's Sonja Steptoe stated the "sports star
endorsement trend troubles some doctors who consider the ads
ethically troubling and possibly medically dangerous." UCLA
Dir of Laser Refractive Center Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler, on
athletes endorsing LASIK surgery: "If they're giving their
testimonial to the surgeon that actually did their surgery,
then I can see that there's a good rationale for that. But,
we're actually in an age where we're having professional
athletes endorse national laser center chains." CNN/SI's
Internet poll asked, "Do you think athletes should do paid
endorsements for medical procedures?" Of the 2,539
respondents, 37% said yes and 63% said no (CNN/SI, 7/8).
