Ontario docs tighten cosmetic surgery rules
By Ian Robertson
Ontario's medical watchdog agency has put 36 doctors under a scope as it toughens policies for physicians and surgeons who perform cosmetic procedures.
As part of its clampdown, following six months of reviews of bylaws, public concerns and recommendations from coroners, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario's council proposed tougher guidelines on Monday.
At the top of the list is a plan to ban the 61-year-old term 'Plastic Surgeon' as too vague, call for inspections of non-hospital clinics where cosmetic procedures are done, and a requirement for all doctors to cite their training and qualifications.
"There is a concern for public safety," Dan Faulkner, the college's quality management director, who briefed councillors on the recommendations, said.
In the wake of several deaths - particularly from liposuction - plus several western provinces setting new guidelines and limiting practices, Faulkner said some regulations have been tightened.
But he told councillors "there is inconsistent oversight" and no provincial regulations for facilities where cosmetic procedures are conducted.
Of the 36 doctors being scrutinized, Faulnker said 16 will be checked for possibly operating without qualifications while performing "high-risk" procedures and 20 were warned their licenses will be yanked unless they fill out a detailed questionnaire.
College president Dr. Jeremy Turnbull told reproters no doctors names will be released, since none has been proven to have breached misconduct rules.
Explaining that a speedy investigation of them and their clinics will safeguard the public, Turnbull promised any found to lack qualifications or safe facilities can have their right to practice medicine banned "immediately," under existing provincial powers the college holds.
The 20 who did not return questionnaires by Nov. 5 that were sent to 539 doctors identified by ads, website information and descriptions provided earlier, have been given 60 days to comply or they will lose their licences.
The questionnaires asked doctors if they are involved in clinical practices, describe which of 70 cosmetic procedures they perform or others not on the list, full details of their training, accreditation and experience, various anesthetics involved, the facilities used, staff, discharge protocols, after-care arrangements, medical organizations they belong to, and any continuing professional development and education in cosmetic procedures.
Turnbull declined to discuss the status of Dr. Behnaz Yazdanfar, whose patient Krista Stryland died Sept. 20 after the 32-year-old Toronto realtor and young mother had tummy liposuction at the The Toronto Cosmetic Clinic.
He also denied that the College of Physicians and Surgeons has been dragging its feet on toughening regulations since another woman's death in 1999 after liposuction.
Asked if any patient questions a doctor's abilities, Turnbull said his staff will not discuss an individual physician, but will stress the right of anyone to ask questions about training, procedures, anesthetics and risks.
He said the college added a detailed questionnaire to its website last Friday, which the public can access the new Fact Sheet at: www.cpso.on.ca/Info_Public/fact_cosmetic.htm.
"Cosmetic surgery and non-surgical cosmetic procedures are more in demand than ever before," the college says on its website.
"Whether you are considering actual surgery or any other type of cosmetic procedure, you should make sure that you have all the information you need to make a properly informed decision before proceeding."
The fact sheet identifies common facial cosmetic as procedures that include a "facelift, brow lift, eyelid surgery, ear surgery, and rhinoplasty (nose) surgery. Less invasive cosmetic facial surgeries include facial liposuction, facial implants, micro fat grafting, and some laser resurfacing procedures."