It seems to me that this form of "public spanking" would really earn the opposite of what you claim for: when you leave the judgement to the crowd, you are basi

It seems to me that this form of "public spanking" would really earn the opposite of what you claim for: when you leave the judgement to the crowd, you are basically fomenting hatred and revenge (because for some psychological reason in such a case every one feels entitled to have a revenge, even when they are not involved in the case), which in turns leads to a punishment that cannot be controlled any more. This is why judgement should be left to professionals that (should) take the appropriate time to listen to both parties, review the legal basis and take a well-thought decision, trying to not put too much feeling in it. I'm not claiming this works perfectly, but it is definitely better that leaving the matter to the crowd. There are many cases of people whose guilty-appearing position was overexposed, for example by media, later proving innocent or less culpable that the initial situation might have suggested, but condemned forever to unjust public shaming. On the act itself, I am in the number of those who think this should be taken extremely seriously and it is good ground for losing the license and criminal charges. Scarring someone's body (against their own will) has been for long (and until a few decades ago) a sign of property and slavery, and although I do not think this was what this surgeon intended, it still must be considered an extreme humiliation. Also, a surgeon's professional position usually entails an important amount of responsibilities and power, so violation of the public's trust in them are very important matter.