GMC announces tough new standards for doctors carrying out cosmetic procedures
UK doctors who carry out cosmetic procedures have been issued with new guidance by the General Medical Council (GMC) to ensure they provide the best possible care for patients.
The guidance comes into force in June and covers both surgical and non-surgical procedures. It says that doctors must advertise and market services responsibly; give patients time for reflection; seek a patient’s consent themselves, not delegate it; provide continuity of care and support patient safety by making full and accurate records of consultations and contributing to programmes to monitor quality and outcomes, including registers for devices such as breast implants. The guidance also warns doctors not use promotional tactics, such as “two-for-one” offers, and bans the practice of offering procedures as prizes.
Professor Terence Stephenson, chair of the GMC, said, “Our new guidance is designed to help drive up standards in the cosmetic industry and make sure all patients are given the care, treatment and support they need.”
Health Minister Ben Gummer said, “This new guidance for doctors is an important step forward in improving standards and ending the lottery of poor practice in parts of the cosmetic industry.”
Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, national medical director, NHS England, said, “The GMC’s new guidance will play a pivotal role in raising standards and protecting people who choose to have a cosmetic procedure. It will also help ensure doctors are seen to be open and honest, that they work within their competence and seek appropriate training and advice where necessary. This marks an important step forward.”
The GMC is working closely with the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS), which has also published its own set of professional standards, specifically for cosmetic surgery, which will supplement the GMC’s guidance.
Stephen Cannon, vice president of the RCS and chair of the Cosmetic Surgery Interspecialty Committee, said, “Our professional standards for cosmetic surgery, coupled with the GMC’s new guidance, will raise the bar and make absolutely clear what we expect of all surgeons working in the private sector. “The message is simple: if you are not working to the standards, you should not be treating patients at all. We, and regulators, including the GMC, will do everything in our powers to protect patients and to stop unscrupulous individuals from practising.”
Later this year the RCS will also launch a new certification scheme, allowing patients to more easily search for a surgeon who has the necessary skills and experience to perform the procedure they are considering. In addition, the GMC is currently developing a guide for patients considering cosmetic procedures, which will give advice and information on things to consider and the questions they should ask their doctor.
