The Royal College of Surgeons have opened a consultation after stating that patients paying for cosmetic surgery privately should have access to clear, unbiased and credible information about their surgeon, care provider, procedure and likely outcomes.
The vast majority of cosmetic surgery takes place in the private sector and currently, a surgeon must be registered and licensed by the General Medical Council (GMC) to carry out such procedures. However, because cosmetic surgery covers a number of surgical areas, there is no common qualification available for surgeons.
A series currently showing on Channel 5, “Botched Up Bodies” (http://www.channel5.com/shows/botched-up-bodies) has thrown the issue into the public domain with the topic dominating social media sites.
The Royal College of Surgeons believes that cosmetic surgeons should have minimum standards to adhere too and should need to demonstrate that they have:
- Undertaken a minimum number of procedures within the relevant region of the body in a facility recognised by the health regulator
- The appropriate professional skills to undertake cosmetic surgery
- Provide evidence of the quality of their surgical outcomes
There are obviously risks involved with cosmetic surgery procedures just as there are with other types of surgery and sometimes, unfortunately, things do go wrong.
The Doctors and Nurses undertaking these procedures owe their patients a duty of care. If they breach this duty of care and a patient suffers harm as a result, the patient may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.
If you believe that you have received negligent treatment during or following cosmetic surgery procedures please contact one of our specialists at Ringrose Law, who will be happy to discuss your case and determine whether you may be able to make a claim. Call 01522 561020 for an informal chat with a member of our team.