West Australians are among almost 300 former cosmetic surgery patients who are considering taking legal action over what they claim was poor medical care.
The move follows the opening of public consultation as part of an independent review into the cosmetic surgery industry, commissioned by the Australian Health Practitioners Regulatory Agency and the Medical Board.
It was triggered by public and professional outrage over rogue cosmetic surgery practices, which were revealed in a series of national media reports last year.
Much of it focussed on celebrity cosmetic surgeon Dr Daniel Lanzer’s clinics, which at the time operated in several cities, including Perth.
The website for the Perth practice now advises that “Daniel Lanzer has retired” and “he is no longer a registered medical practitioner.”
Last week Dr Lanzer and four of his doctor associates became the target of a class action brought by patients who claim they have suffered injury and loss due to procedures performed by the doctors.
Melbourne-based Maddens Lawyers lodged the case in the Supreme Court of Victoria against Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery Services Pty Ltd, Dr Lanzer, Dr Daniel Aronov, Dr Daniel Darbyshire, Dr Ryan Wells and Dr Alireza Fallahi.
The patients’ grievances include ongoing severe pain, nerve damage, restrictions in movement and function of limbs and other parts of the body, botched results and lasting deformities and psychological trauma.
Patients in the class action are claiming a full refund of the price paid for the cosmetic surgery, as well as compensation for pain and suffering and other costs such as rectification surgery and loss of income.
Earlier media reports suggested that about 200 people from NSW, Victoria, Queensland and WA had registered their interest in the case.
But Maddens class action principal Kathryn Emeny told Medical Forum this week that the firm had now received close to 300 registrations to take part in the class action. There were “numerous people from WA” who had registered.
“The next major step in the proceeding is for each of the defendants to file a defence to the class action writ, if they intend on defending the case,” she said.
“Once defences are served, we’ll have a better idea of the scope of the dispute and the likely timeframes however we’re doing everything within our control to advance the claim as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, the independent review is expected to make recommendations to AHPRA and the Medical Board by the middle of year.
ED: To read more on the review and the wider implications for the use of the term ‘surgeon’ in Australia, go to our special cover story in the March edition of Medical Forum.