By Enore Panetta | Health Blog 2021 | Panetta McGrath. Reproduced with authorisation by Panetta McGrath Lawyers
Ahpra and the Medical Board have announced they will conduct an external review of patient safety issues into the rapidly growing cosmetic surgery sector.
The review will be led by the outgoing Queensland Health Ombudsman Andrew Brown and will consider the current risk-based regulatory framework of Ahpra and National Boards and examine the current codes of conduct, the notifications and investigations protocols and the management of advertising – ensuring practitioners practice safely within the scope of their qualifications, training, and experience.
The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons has welcomed this announcement: College of Surgeons welcomes review of cosmetic surgery.
As published by Ahpra the scope of the review is as follows:
The review will inquire and report on:
1. The regulatory role of Ahpra and relevant National Boards in cosmetic surgery with particular attention to its risk-based approach focusing on:
- Updates to codes of conduct and supporting guidance which aim to ensure that practitioners practise safely within the scope of their qualifications, training, and experience
- The methodology for risk assessment of cosmetic surgery notifications
- The Ahpra investigation protocol
- The management of advertising offences, and
- opportunities for changes, clarifications, or further actions in relation to the current regulatory approach to protected titles.
2. The way Ahpra works with other system regulators to ensure clear roles and responsibilities and appropriate information flows in support of the broader regulatory framework which involves a range of state, territory, and national regulators.
3. The best means available to strengthen the safety reporting culture within cosmetic surgery to address barriers to health professionals raising concerns when a practitioner has practised in ways that depart from accepted professional standards.
4. Strategies relevant to the role of Ahpra and National Boards as a regulator of the registered health professions to reduce information asymmetry for consumers in order to inform safer choices and informed consent.
5. Provide a contemporary view of current risks to patient safety in cosmetic surgery and how they should inform the work of Ahpra and relevant National Boards.
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