REGULATION OF COSMETIC SURGERY IN FOR A NIP AND TUCK
Once accessible only to the rich and famous, cosmetic surgery has become increasingly popular in the past decade. While there are no precise figures on the current size of the Irish market, UK statistics support the theory that the industry is defying the recession, with figures showing an increase in the number of procedures performed in 2009.
In recent years, the industry has taken on a new feature, with the development of ‘cosmetic surgery tourism’. Whilst the potential risks inherent in opting for surgery in a foreign country have been well documented, less attention has focused on the fact that within Ireland itself, cosmetic surgery remains an unregulated industry. This is due to the fact that there are currently no regulations or licensing requirements in Ireland for private health clinics. There is no single body to oversee professional standards and no legal restrictions on who can carry out cosmetic surgery. This means that any person trained as a doctor is permitted to carry out cosmetic surgery in this country even though they have not necessarily undergone any specialist training. A number of proposals have been made to rectify this situation, none of which have been implemented to date.
It appears however that work is now underway to fill the regulatory gap and this development will be welcomed by patients and clinicians alike. Earlier this year the Department of Health confirmed that legislative proposals are currently being developed for a mandatory licensing system covering private cosmetic surgery clinics in line with the recommendations contained in the 2008 report, “Building a Culture of Patient Safety”. We await the proposals with interest.
Aoife Nally, Solicitor
anally@hayes-solicitors.ie