Ontario docs propose tougher cosmetic surgery rules

• Ontario docs propose tougher cosmetic surgery rules

Toronto SUN - November 20, 2007

By Ian Robertson, SUN MEDIA

Ontario’s medical watchdog agency has put 36 doctors under a scope as it toughens policies for physicians and surgeons doing high-risk cosmetic procedures.

And after six months of reviews of bylaws, regulations and public concerns, the council of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario approved several guidelines on Monday.

Recommendations to be considered by the council in February, after they are circulated to all doctors and health organizations, include requiring doctors to use titles that do not imply specialization they lack — such as “cosmetic surgeon” — and expand the college’s authority to inspect non-hospital clinics.

“There is a concern for public safety,” Dan Faulkner, the college’s quality management director told councillors.

Plastic surgeons undergo five years of specialty training and are licensed by the province. The issue before the college is the growing number of family doctors and general practitioners who perform some of the procedures without being fully trained.

After several highly-publicized deaths — particularly from liposuction, a procedure local realtor Krista Stryland underwent the day she died Sept. 20 – plus western provinces setting new guidelines and limiting practices, Faulkner said some Ontario regulations have been tightened.

But he said “there is inconsistent oversight” and no provincial regulations for facilities where cosmetic procedures are conducted.

Of the 36 doctors being scrutinized, Faulkner said 16 will be checked for possibly operating without qualifications while doing “high-risk” procedures.

The other 20 were warned their license is forfeit unless they answer questions about their qualifications, practices, procedures and patient care within 60 days.

The 539 doctors who the college identified as doing cosmetic surgeries were given until Nov. 5 to return the detailed survey.

College president Dr. Jeffrey Turnbull said no doctors names will be released, since none was proven to have breached misconduct rules.

But Turnbull told reporters: “The college has the powers to investigate and then to proceed on with additional procedures that are required, which might extend to the point of suspension of practice and discipline.”

Vowing a speedy investigation of the 16 doctors and their clinics will safeguard the public, he promised any doctor found lacking can have their right to practice medicine banned “immediately.”

Turnbull would not discuss Dr. Behnaz Yazdanfar, who did Stryland’s stomach liposuction at The Toronto Cosmetic Clinic.

The final report has not been submitted to Toronto coroner, Dr. James Edwards.

Turnbull denied the college has dragged its feet on toughening regulations.

Patients are invited to question the college about procedures and risks, but will not discuss an individual physician, he said, adding a detailed fact sheet was posted on its website Friday to help the public make informed choices.

Common facial cosmetic surgery were identified 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.”