RACGP continues push for overhaul of cosmetic surgery industry
https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/racgp-continues-push-for-overhaul-of-cosmetic-surg
Late last year, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the Medical Board of Australia launched an independent review of the regulation of health practitioners in the cosmetic surgery industry. The review was announced in response to the uncovering of dangerous and unregulated practices that the health regulator said raises ‘significant patient safety concerns’.
The college is calling for:
consultation with a GP or other appropriately trained health professional before a significant cosmetic procedure
specialist counselling prior to surgery for patients under 18
measures to ensure all patient consent is considered and informed, including translators to assist people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
stricter controls of advertising and marketing of cosmetic procedures, including on social media
accreditation of clinics to ensure high-quality infection, prevention, and control standards for patient safety
clear guidelines for patients to make a complaint if they are dissatisfied with a service.
The use of terms such as ‘cosmetician’ and ‘doctor’ for providers of cosmetic surgery procedures is also recommended as an important safety measure, with the college recently warning of inappropriate use of the ‘surgeon’ title.
The use of terms such as ‘cosmetician’ and ‘doctor’ for providers of cosmetic surgery procedures is also recommended as an important safety measure, with the college recently warning of inappropriate use of the ‘surgeon’ title.
In addition, the RACGP is calling for improved public education so patients know the meaning of each title and the level of training received.
Meanwhile, in a 2015 submission to the Medical Board of Australia, the RACGP warned that as cosmetic procedures, such as injectable Botox and collagen treatments, are often performed by a beautician or nurse, it is ‘likely there are instances’ when a treating doctor is not supervising.