Federal Health Minister Mark Butler is leading national action to protect Australians from rogue doctors.
The regulator fundamentally misunderstands what is needed.
So-called cosmetic cowboys without specialist surgical training can keep offering procedures like facelifts,tummy tucks,breast implants and Brazilian butt lifts while the medical regulator works on a multi-year plan to create new accreditation standards.
While there are a few welcome recommendations in a review of the cosmetic surgery industry,Australians deserve a much tougher response.
Doctors and cosmetic surgery experts have called for the leaders of the regulatory boards overseeing the troubled industry to resign.
Health Minister Mark Butler has vowed to take urgent action to clean up the out-of-control cosmetic surgery industry after the extent of its problems was brought to light.
Labor Senator Deb O’Neill has warned people about cosmetic surgery cowboys operating with no effective oversight because of the failure of the national health regulator.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says people are “shocked” by some of the stories uncovered by an investigation into the cosmetic surgery industry.
Patients are the greatest risk when someone with little or no training embarks upon surgery with no supervision. And yet,this is exactly what is happening in cosmetic surgery.
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency has rejected allegations it is failing to protect the public from so-called “cosmetic cowboys” and vowed to take more action
The only way to get the change needed to protect the public from serious injuries is to close down the entire industry for a period of three to six months.