AHPRA Reforms That Improve Patient Protection Come into Effect this July

AHPRA Reforms That Improve Patient Protection Come into Effect this July

From the 1st of July 2023, new guidelines issued by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) will come into effect. These reforms apply to doctors practicing cosmetic surgery and non-surgical cosmetic procedures. They are part of a package that introduces higher standards to protect patients addressing suitability for procedures, as well as ensuring patients can provide informed consent.

These reforms include:

Increased measures to assess patient suitability

• The medical practitioner performing the procedure or prescribing the injectable must assess the patient’s motivations, including external and internal reasons. Their expectations should also be discussed to ensure they are realistic.
• The patient must be assessed for underlying psychological conditions that would make them an unsuitable candidate for their preferred procedure, such as body dysmorphic disorder. If signs that would make the patient an unsuitable candidate are identified, they must be referred for evaluation to a psychologist, psychiatrist, or GP who works independently from the medical practitioner.
• When performing a cosmetic procedure or prescribing a cosmetic injectable is not believed to be in the best interest of the patient, it must be declined by the medical practitioner.
• The appropriateness of procedures must be considered regarding patients who are under 18. Botulinum toxin and dermal fillers should not be prescribed for patients under 18 for cosmetic purposes.
• These changes also require medical practitioners to have an in person or video consultation each time they prescribe a patient a schedule 4 cosmetic injectable.

Ensuring patients can provide informed consent

Practitioners should provide enough information for the patient to make an informed decision. This should include a verbal consent discussion and providing written information about the procedure. The patient should be made aware of:

1. The cosmetic procedure
• What the procedure involves
• Which cosmetic injectable is being prescribed (if relevant)
• Whether the procedure is new or experimental
• The range of possible outcomes (both short and long term)
• The risks and possible complications (both short and long term)
• The risks specific to the patient
• The possibility of the need for further treatment (both short and long term)
• Recovery times and the aftercare requirements during this period

2. The medical practitioner
• Their registration type and number
• Their qualifications, training, and experience
• Other practitioners that will be involved in the procedure

3. The treatment cost and financial considerations
• The total cost
• Details of deposits and payments required, and payment dates
• Refund of deposits
• Payments for follow-up care
• Possible future costs regarding revisions or additional treatment
• Making it clear that cosmetic treatments are not covered by Medicare

Informed consent for photos and videos of patients

In line with the new changes and to ensure informed consent when requesting photos or videos of patients, medical practitioners must:

• Inform the patient of the proposed use, which includes the purpose, how the photos or video will be used, as well as where they will be stored and who can access them.
• Patient images and videos must be stored on a secure device that is not a personal device.

These changes will ensure higher standards and better safety measures to protect individuals considering cosmetic procedures, and allow suitable candidates to make informed decisions concerning the immediate and future impacts of their preferred treatment. At Ocean Cosmetics, our team is ahead of these changes and committed to ensuring your safety is our priority.

Information regarding these changes has been referenced from the Medical Board of Australia.