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Half-price liposuction offered - to human guinea pigs |
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Wednesday, 05 December 2007 |
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A group of doctors, advertising themselves as cosmetic surgeons, are offering discounted liposuction procedures to members of the public willing to have the procedure conducted by trainees. The advertisement, has drawn criticism from the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, who issued a warning about the possible dangers of volunteering to be the subject of training procedures.
The advert has been placed by an organisation calling itself the Australian College of Cosmetic Surgery, which is not officially accredited. In Australia's New South Wales, it is not illegal for doctors to advertise as cosmetic surgeons, although they cannot call themselves plastic surgeons unless they have specialist training in that field and are accredited by the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons. The ability of doctors to call themselves cosmetic surgeons has been criticised by plastic surgeons, who say that the issue confuses members of the public, who do not understand the difference between the two titles.
Any GP can call themselves a cosmetic surgeon. Yet it is illegal to call yourself an orthopaedic surgeon or plastic surgeon if you are not one. The difference between a plastic surgeon and a cosmetic surgeon is 10 years of training. - Dr Webster, President of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons
Patients who wish to take advantage of the discounted liposuction will be sedated and operated on in front of 20 doctors who will attend the three day workshop in Sydney, taking place this week.
New South Wales Health Minister Reba Meagher said that anyone contemplating cosmetic surgery such as liposuction should be "buyer beware"It is important that people contemplating cosmetic surgery obtain appropriate information and advice to make an informed decision on their care. - Health Minister Reba Meagher
However, the move was defended by the president of the Australian College of Cosmetic Surgery, Dr John Flynn, who denied that any patients were put at risk during the workshops.
There is never any guarantee in any surgery. - Dr John Flynn, Australian College of Cosmetic Surgery
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