CPSA

CPSA Applauds Investigation into Illegal Anti Wrinkle Injection Practice

8th April 2010 – The Cosmetic Physicians Society of Australasia (CPSA) applauds the Queensland Nursing Council (QNC) and the Health Quality and Complaints Commission (HQCC) for investigating a Cairnsbased nurse who has allegedly been illegally importing and administering unregistered medications, without prescription, for cosmetic treatments.

To protect consumers from medicinal products which do not meet strict guidelines, it is imperative that the full history of any medicine being administered in Australia is known and approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Medical procedures should also be administered by an appropriately trained practitioner, and treatments should be conducted in a suitable environment with the correct infection control and hygiene. The administration of any medicine without medicalsupervision places patients at risk.

The registered nurse is under investigation by the QNC for sourcing from overseas non-TGA-approved botulinum toxin products, advertising them using the “products” brand name (which is also against the law) and administering them without a prescription to patients.

Dr Gabrielle Caswell, President of the CPSA, said, “The CPSA believes that patient safety should always be paramount. The administration of non-TGA-approved medicines places patients at risk of complications, including infections. Prescribing practitioners must also have an appropriate level of medical indemnity insurance, to provide financial recourse for any unfortunate patients who experience an adverse outcome. As a registered nurse is not legally permitted to prescribe scheduled medications, she would not be insured.

“The fact that an investigation is ongoing shows that the relevant authorities take very seriously the issue of unregistered medications being administered without prescription. As a matter of general “Potentially unsafe, unsterile and poorly performing non-TGA-approved medications should not be tolerated; all patients have the right to receive the medication which they believe they are paying for. If cosmetic treatments are undertaken with correctly-sourced medication and administered by an appropriately-trained practitioner, the patient has little to be concerned about.”

Qualified and skilled medical practitioners whose expertise includes cosmetic medicine can be found on the CPSA website – www.cosmeticphysicians.org.au

For more information

Shaneez Johnston | Res Publica (02) 8297 1509 | 0413 610529 | [javascript protected email address]

The Cosmetic Physicians Society of Australasia

CPSA members are dedicated, trained, registered doctors who offer medically proven cosmetic treatments. The CPSA continually monitors and upholds the ethics of its members and ensures they are kept up to date on the latest medically proven techniques. For further information on the CPSA visit www.cosmeticphysicians.org.au