Horrifying incidents of botched cosmetic surgery underscore the need for stricter regulation of the industry, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
"There is an overwhelming amount of evidence showing conduct by so-called 'cosmetic surgeons' which does not meet accepted professional standards and poses a threat to public safety," said Ms Ngaire Watson, barrister specialising in medical negligence claims and spokesperson for the ALA.
"This is not the time to consider relaxing the rules around health services advertising to allow the use of patient testimonials."
The ALA awaits the release of the report from Ahpra and the Medical Board of Australia's Independent Review of the Regulation of Health Practitioners in Cosmetic Surgery.
"We hope the review will recommend stronger regulation of the industry, including in the realm of cosmetic procedures advertising. The review must endorse the current legislative ban on the use of testimonials in advertising," said Ms Watson.
"If the use of testimonials in cosmetic procedures advertising is allowed, it will enable practitioners to present an even more skewed and unrealistic perspective to prospective patients.
"Too often people choose to undergo a cosmetic procedure, and decide which practitioner to use, without all the relevant information. Allowing practitioners to use testimonials in their advertising will only exacerbate the problem. It will expose the public to preventable dangers and will increase the risk to public safety."
The ALA supports calls for an independent and objective inquiry into the cosmetic procedures industry, into the regulation governing the industry as well as into the industry's federal and state regulators.
"The regulation of cosmetic surgery has not kept pace with the huge growth in the industry," said Ngaire.
"We have been very concerned for some time now about the increasing numbers of people who suffer serious complications and ongoing injury as a result of elective cosmetic procedures.
"In order to protect the public, we must have a system in place that ensures swift and comprehensive action by regulators against doctors practising in a manner that does not meet professional standards.
"A public inquiry would provide greater transparency around the regulator's processes for monitoring and sanctioning cosmetic surgery providers. It would also make public information about unlawful advertising and the subsequent rates of prosecution for non-compliance with advertising regulations."
