Nuffield Council on Bioethics Report
‘Cosmetic Procedures – Ethical Issues’
In a press release, the JCCP (Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners) has welcomed the findings of the Nuffield Council report into Bioethics.
The report by a team of experts and consultees has highlighted a number of ethical and practical concerns, specifically including the areas of:
- public awareness
- safety
- practitioner regulation
The report highlights outstanding concerns raised in the Keogh report in 2013, namely:
- Controls on the safety of some of the products used
- Requirements for practitioners to have particular qualifications and experience
- It is still too difficult for anyone seeking a cosmetic procedure to find out whether a practitioner is appropriately qualified to carry out that procedure
The findings of the Nuffield Council Bioethics report strike a particular chord with the JCCP as their stated primary aim is:
“to provide a mechanism that can enable the public to clearly identify safe practitioners across all non-surgical aesthetic treatments.”
Indeed, the Nuffield Report highlights and welcomes the establishment of the JCCP and its plans for public awareness campaigns, linked to a charter mark for practitioners (Recommendation 18).
Ethical Issues
The Nuffield Report also explores ethical aspects of the industry – appearance ideals, marketing/advertising and other drivers behind the increasing demand for cosmetic procedures and ethical questions around the supply and raised a series of concerns:
- The social and economic pressures about appearance
- Potential impact of appearance ideals on mental health
- Social expectations and ideals people are encouraged to conform and aspire to
- Susceptibility of teenagers and children to peer pressures and access to cosmetic procedures
- Marketing invasive cosmetic procedures as ‘solutions’
Conclusions & Recommendations
The report has a series of conclusions for the industry:
- Implement the Keogh report recommendations in full
- Restrict access of under 18s to cosmetic procedures/treatments
- Empower consumers by providing independent, high quality information
- Register of practitioners who are ‘quality marked’ through membership of a register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority
- Better control of products (Department of Health and MHRA to require evidence of safety and effectiveness)
- Bring forward legislation to make dermal fillers prescription-only. Until then, cosmetic practitioner insurers should restrict indemnity to FDA approved dermal fillers
- Extend remit of CQC to premises where invasive cosmetic procedures are carried out
Dermal Fillers – Prescription Only?
The JCCP’s press release supports the Nuffield Report’s specific recommendation (10) asking the Department of Health to bring forward stand-alone legislation to make all dermal fillers prescription only
Read the full report at http://nuffieldbioethics.org/wp-content/uploads/Cosmetic-procedures-full-report.pdf
Read a summary of the report at http://nuffieldbioethics.org/wp-content/uploads/Cosmetic-procedures-guide-to-the-report.pdf
More information on
- The formation of the CSA and JCCP
- What is the JCCP?
- JCCP Update on Plans
- JCCP Update – Register Launch Information
BOTOX® & Fillers Training
SkinViva Training Academy is a major provider of cosmetic treatment courses for practitioners. The company welcomes better regulation of the industry and work to further higher standards among practitioners through quality training courses.
We will continue to update this website with industry regulation news.
Botox and Fillers Training Manchester
SkinViva Training Academy offers a comprehensive range of aesthetic treatment training courses for medical professionals such as suitably qualified and registered medical professionals who wish to learn and build on their skills in delivering these procedures. For more information, please feel to browse our latest availability.
SkinViva Training Academy was established by Dr Tim Pearce MBChB BSc (Hons) MRCGP in 2013 after he set up SkinViva in 2008 – an aesthetic treatment business which now covers the North West of England.
For further information, to discuss which course is right for you, to enquire about availability or to book a training course please call 0161 850 2491, or email info@skinvivatraining.com.