Cosmetic treatment guidance not just for plastic surgeons, says MDU
New standards from the GMC for doctors carrying out cosmetic procedures will apply to a wide range of clinicians, not just plastic surgeons, the Medical Defence Union (MDU) explained today.
The increasing popularity of non-surgical cosmetic treatments such as botulinum toxin and dermal fillers means many doctors now offer cosmetic procedures to patients. Almost 20% of cosmetic intervention cases notified to the MDU over the last ten years involved non-surgical procedures, with a significant number of the enquiries from GPs and other non-surgical specialties considering extending their practice to these areas.
Dr Nicola Lennard, MDU medico-legal adviser commented:
“Doctors carrying out any procedure or treatment with the primary objective of changing an aspect of a patient’s physical appearance, need to be aware of and follow the new guidance.
“As explained in the guidance, getting the patients’ fully informed consent is key to avoiding misunderstandings. A robust consent process which ensures patients are given all the information they need about a procedure, including the risks, along with time to consider and change their mind, is important with any treatment, but particularly so with cosmetic treatments, where patients may have high, or even unrealistic expectations.
“The GMC provides detailed guidance on this issue including that the doctor carrying out an intervention must seek the patient’s consent themselves, rather than delegate it to a colleague.
“Recognising that patients can be misled by the marketing of cosmetic services, the guidance also states that doctors must not use promotional tactics in ways that could encourage people to make an ill-considered decision or provide their services as a prize.
“Before starting to offer cosmetic treatments, doctors should also check with their medical defence organisation to ensure they have appropriate indemnity in place for the work they are doing.”
The MDU’s advice for doctors carrying out cosmetic interventions includes:
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Make sure you are appropriately trained and experienced to practise safely.
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Ensure the patient receives information about the risks and benefits of each procedure.
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Consider what risks this particular patient might need or want to know and ensure the patient has understood these.
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Document very thoroughly the consent process.
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Ensure patients have adequate time to reach an informed decision and seek expert psychological input where appropriate.
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Keep records of your outcomes for appraisal purposes.
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For surgeons implanting prostheses, develop a records system that enables the identification of affected patients should a patient safety issue arise.
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Ensure advertising literature does not create unrealistic expectations.
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Keep the MDU informed about the type of work you are carrying out so that we can ensure you are appropriately indemnified.
