The NSW Supreme Court has given the green light for up to 1,000 women to launch a class action lawsuit against Australia’s largest cosmetic surgery clinic – The Cosmetic Institute (TCI) – after a number of women reported they had undergone breast implant surgery and suffered major intra-operative and post-operative issues, which left them with serious health complications.
The President of the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS), Dr Naveen Somia, said this announcement is a great day for patient safety.
“ASAPS says ‘Cosmetic Sweatshop’ style set-ups that turn an invasive surgical procedure into a commodity have no place in cosmetic surgery as they risk patient safety. As doctors, patients come first and patient safety must be adhered to at every stage of the patient journey and at all costs,” Dr Somia said.
The case will go before court on 14 December 2018 and will further highlight the existing regulation loophole in Australia, which allows doctors who are not registered as ‘Surgeons’ with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Agency (AHPRA) to overstate their qualifications and perform surgical procedures on patients who are unaware of the differences between a ‘cosmetic doctor’ and a Specialist Plastic Surgeon.
Click here to read the latest media release from ASAPS in response to the announcement.
The surgeons at Assure Cosmetic Centre are Specialist Plastic Surgeons, not ‘cosmetic doctors’. They only perform breast augmentation surgery in fully-accredited hospitals, under general anaesthetic administered by a fully-qualified ANZCA Specialist Anaesthetist, and use breast implants from leading suppliers.
Read about the risks of choosing an unregulated doctor here.
Find out more about the difference between a ‘cosmetic doctor’ and a Specialist Plastic Surgeon here.
To discuss your surgical options with one of our Specialist Plastic Surgeons, click here.
*The term ‘cosmetic doctor’ is not formally recognised as an official title by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
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