Botched Surgery Compensation Guide
Many Australians undergo cosmetic surgery each year, hoping to achieve excellent results. However, some unfortunate individuals can be the victims of a botched plastic surgery, which brings with it a number of implications. Often, the only step forward from a cosmetic surgery gone wrong is to file a medical negligence claim.
Read on to learn more about the steps involved in suing a cosmetic surgeon and how compensation lawyers can help to maximise your claim.
Cosmetic Surgeries In Australia
Cosmetic surgery can be a procedure to correct an issue with your body or to enhance a feature of your body. It can encompass anything from receiving skin grafts to correct serious burns on the body to breast reduction or augmentation.
There are many reasons thousands of Australians choose to go under the knife but usually, the main one is that they believe they will have a better quality of life post-surgery. This, however, is not always the case.
The surge in unregistered plastic surgeons
As the number of botched plastic surgery procedures increases, so to do medical negligence claims. More and more backyard beauty parlours and salons are now practising plastic surgery, with many untrained beauticians performing procedures without doctors or nurses on site. This growing wave of dangerous behaviour has prompted many doctors to speak out and issue warnings about the dangers of unregistered plastic surgeons.
When Is It Medical Malpractice?
It is important to determine if you have sufficient grounds to make a medical negligence claim. The easiest way to do this is to consult with cosmetic surgery lawyers so that you are receiving the best advice for your particular situation.
Some common reasons for suing a cosmetic surgeon include:
- Non-certified plastic surgeons performing cosmetic surgery
- Failure to abide by the patient’s informed consent
- Failing to take the patient’s full medical history
- Using inadequate surgical equipment and/or performing surgeries outside of hospitals/clinics
Qualifications that a plastic surgeon should have
You should always ensure that your plastic surgeon is qualified to perform plastic surgery. In Australia, all plastic surgeons must have successfully completed training at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) before they are approved by the Government to perform plastic surgery.
You should also ensure the plastic surgeon is experienced in the particular type of procedure you wish to undertake, as some procedures may be new or may require certain expertise.
How to spot an unregistered plastic surgeon
The surgical setting is often a good indication about the legitimacy of the surgical practice. Many unregistered plastic surgeons operate out of carpeted living rooms, with patients being set on beds or couches. If your procedure is taking place in a residential apartment, this is a clear sign that the plastic surgeon may be unregistered.
The price of a procedure can also be a good indication, as the costs of unregistered plastic surgeons are marginally less than fully qualified surgeons. While many people wish to save money by opting for an unregistered surgeon, the risks do outweigh the small difference in price. Remember that plastic surgery is an elective procedure, not an emergency procedure, and you should only elect to undergo the surgery if you can afford all of the relevant fees and costs of a qualified plastic surgeon.
If you think you may be eligible for compensation following plastic surgery, contact the team at Goodman Spring today.