Complications of aesthetic medicine procedures: five case studies.

The paper presents the cases of five patients who developed complications after aesthetic medicine procedures. Four of the cases involved women who reported to the Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, for a description and legal qualification of bodily injuries suffered as a result of aesthetic medicine procedures, whereas one was related to the assessment of accuracy of medical management at the request of the prosecutor handling the case. The reported cases concerned acid exfoliation treatments, photoepilation and cryotherapy. The authors attempt to discuss the most common complications that may occur after aesthetic medicine procedures, and measures to avoid them.

LASERS and the LAW: what the dermatologist needs to know.

Dermatologic laser surgery is a continuously evolving field of medicine. According to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, over 100 million laser and light source cosmetic procedures were performed by its members in 2003. Procedures, which include hair removal, nonablative treatments, as well as removal of pigmented lesions, tattoos, and unwanted vascular lesions, have revolutionized this field. With an increasing number of physicians and nonphysicians performing these procedures and with the availability of increasingly powerful laser technologies, the potential for problems and their legal consequences continue to increase. This article will address the concept of negligence and the potential for a resultant medical malpractice lawsuit that may arise in such a setting. Inherent in this issue are the associated problems that arise when these procedures are performed by physician extenders. An understanding of the basic principals of a cause of action in medical malpractice will likely protect a physician from losing such a case in a court of law.