GMC produces new cosmetic surgery guidelines

  Doctors carrying out cosmetic treatments will face a new set of ethical and safety guidelines from 1 June, the GMC has announced. The GMC has published new guidance covering both surgical and non-surgical procedures, such as breast augmentation and Botox, with the aim of improving patient safety. The guidance is based upon a review of cosmetic treatments by NHS England national medical director Sir Bruce Keogh and will apply to all doctors across the UK. In the introduction to its guidance, the GMC notes that cosmetic treatments have, in recent years, moved from being a niche market in medicine to one that is now popular and widespread. The guidelines aim to ensure that doctors follow existing safety protocols, give consideration to patients’ psychological needs and to ensure that financial interests of surgery do not supersede or impact patient care.   Patient safety Specific requirements include: Doctors carrying out a cosmetic procedure must personally discuss and obtain consent for the procedure with the patient Patients must be given ample time to decide whether to go ahead with a procedure Doctors performing treatments must ensure continuity of care post-procedure and maintain full and accurate records of consultations. The GMC’s chair Terence Stephenson (pictured) said he hoped the new guidelines would assist doctors as well as increase patient safety. He said: ‘Cosmetic interventions should not be entered into lightly or w...
Source: BMA News - Category: UK Health Source Type: news