The AMA and Australia’s surgical societies have welcomed the release of an independent review of the regulations governing cosmetic surgery.
They are calling for swift action by Australian health ministers to act on the key recommendations, including an immediate start to implementing a ban on the use of the term ‘surgeon’ by anyone other than medical practitioners with surgical accreditation from the Australian Medical Council (AMC).
The 132-page report, released September 1st by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Agency (Ahpra) and the Medical Board of Australia (MBA), is the much-anticipated response to the concerning allegations of malpractice that have plagued the industry in recent years.
AMA President Professor Steve Robson said that an initial review of the 16 recommendations showed they appeared to be a positive step in the right direction, but many details still needed to be finalised in consultation with the profession.
“While it will take time to implement some of these changes, Ahpra and the MBA need to swiftly act on those recommendations which can bring about change now,” Professor Robson said.
“Importantly, health ministers could make a decision to protect patients by restricting the title ‘surgeon’ to those medical practitioners who have undertaken a significant, accredited surgical training program.”
The AMA has expressed its concern for many years patients could be misled by the term ‘cosmetic surgeon’ or ‘podiatric surgeon,’ believing they are dealing with a medical practitioner who has formal and specific surgical qualifications when in fact they may not.
“Health ministers have been dragging their feet in looking into the use of the title ‘surgeon’ since a separate review in 2018 and taking action on protecting the title will support many of the initiatives in the report,” Professor Robson said.
“Health ministers can no longer delay taking decisive action: we’ve all been shocked by the stomach-turning cases of botched cosmetic surgery reported in the media again and we need to stop these wholly inappropriate practises.
“There are many reputable doctors with extensive experience and recognised surgical qualifications who are performing cosmetic surgery to the highest of standards and it is deeply unfortunate that we have seen patients harmed as a result of the actions of a minority of doctors.”
Similarly, The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS), and the Australian Society of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgeons (ASOHNS) said that any reform must acknowledge the inadequacy of surgical training by numerous practitioners.
Dr Robert Sheen, the President of Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) pointed out that many so-called ‘cosmetic surgeons’ used various training programs as proof of their expertise, but some of these programs required almost no specific surgical training.
“Surgeons in any area of speciality must have training in both the technique and in surgical safety, ethics, patient care, risk mitigation, anatomy, and hands-on supervised experience. Cosmetic surgery should be held to the same standard as any invasive surgery – it’s what keeps them safe,” Dr Sheen said.
“AMC accredited training is necessary to protect patients, and this is why every other medical profession requires AMC accredited training as a measure of standards and a requirement to use the title of ‘surgeon’.”
The review’s other key recommendations include is a proposed a crackdown on advertising by enforcing a ban on testimonials that are misleading and deceptive, and the establishment of a specific Cosmetic Surgery Enforcement Unit within Ahpra.