by Mary Hough February-01-2014 in Healthcare Law
Our Healthcare Team outlines the findings of a recent review of regulation in the UK cosmetic surgery industry and the implications for the Irish system.
On Wednesday, 15 January 2014 it was reported in The Irish Examiner that Dr. Patricia Eadie, Plastic Surgeon, had expressed her views that Ireland should follow Britain’s lead by introducing proposals to regulate the cosmetic surgery industry as the Irish system is currently largely unregulated. Set out below is a summary of the UK proposals.
The independent review of regulations governing the UK cosmetic industry was carried out by NHS Medical Director, Professor Sir Bruce Keogh. The Review Committee’s report outlined a need for a safer product, more highly skilled practitioners and more responsible providers.
It calls for:
- EU Regulations on medical devices to be extended to cover all cosmetic implants, including dermal fillers and new UK laws to make this happen.
- Dermal fillers to be classified as prescription only.
- The Royal College of Surgeons to set standards for cosmetic surgery practice and training and issue formal certification of confidence.
- All those performing cosmetic procedures to be registered.
- Qualifications to be developed for providers of non-surgical procedures.
- Surgical providers to provide patients and their GPs with proper records and individual outcomes for surgeons to be made available on the NHS Choices Website.
- A breast implant registry to be set up within 12 months and extended to other cosmetic devices as soon as possible. This proposal can be seen as a direct response to the PIP implant scandal.
- The Royal College of Surgeons to develop a patient consent procedure for cosmetic operations that consists of several stages.
- Special inducements and time limited deals promoting cosmetic interventions to be banned.
- Individuals performing cosmetic procedures to be required to have adequate professional indemnity.
- Surgeons working in the UK but who are registered abroad, to have appropriate indemnity insurance.
In Ireland, the Department of Health has issued “Recommendations for patients considering surgical cosmetic procedures”, but legislation to regulate this area is still awaited.
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About the Author
Mary Hough
Mary is a partner and Head of the Healthcare team at Hayes solicitors. She specialises in professional indemnity defence litigation and in particular dealing with high value clinical negligence claims. Mary has extensive experience in civil litigation, acting for insurance companies, indemnifiers and plaintiffs.