Australia to crackdown on cosmetic surgery industry

Canberra Nov 6 (IANS) Australian doctors without surgical experience will be banned from referring to themselves as "cosmetic surgeons" under sweeping reforms a media report said.

The federal state and territory Health Ministers have agreed to tighten up the "unregulated" industry after cosmetic surgeons were responsible for a series of life-threatening mistakes while operating Xinhua news agency reported.

Under current rules anyone with a medical degree in Australia can call themselves a cosmetic surgeon regardless of surgical experience.

The proposed changes would make it so only those with plastic surgery training could use the term.

The review of cosmetic practices was prompted by the death of Sydney woman Jean Huang after a botched breast operation in September.

--IANS
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