Lawsuits Over Laser Surgery Injuries Caused by Non-Doctors Growing
- 11 years ago
More and more of the lawsuits related to botched laser surgeries are being brought against people who are not doctors, but were still the ones controlling the laser and conducting the surgery.
Patients who have laser surgery that goes wrong, leaving them with scars or other injuries can file a lawsuit against the doctor or the clinic where the surgery was performed.
More and more of the lawsuits related to botched laser surgeries are being brought against people who are not doctors, but were still the ones controlling the laser and conducting the surgery.
Between the years of 2008 and 2011, lawsuits that list either a nurse, medical assistant, technician, or intern have increased by more than 100%.
According to data from public legal documents, 78 percent of cases in 2011 listed someone who is not a doctor as the laser operator.
The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association suggests that during procedures involving laser surgery, “the supervising physician shall be physically present on-site, immediately available, and able to respond promptly to any question or problem that may occur while the procedure is being performed.”
But state laws and regulations vary, so that in Nevada, no certification is necessary to operate a surgical laser, but in the state of Maine, only a doctor is allowed to perform laser hair removal surgery.
Patients who have laser surgery that goes wrong, leaving them with scars or other injuries can file a lawsuit against the doctor or the clinic where the surgery was performed.
More and more of the lawsuits related to botched laser surgeries are being brought against people who are not doctors, but were still the ones controlling the laser and conducting the surgery.
Between the years of 2008 and 2011, lawsuits that list either a nurse, medical assistant, technician, or intern have increased by more than 100%.
According to data from public legal documents, 78 percent of cases in 2011 listed someone who is not a doctor as the laser operator.
The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association suggests that during procedures involving laser surgery, “the supervising physician shall be physically present on-site, immediately available, and able to respond promptly to any question or problem that may occur while the procedure is being performed.”
But state laws and regulations vary, so that in Nevada, no certification is necessary to operate a surgical laser, but in the state of Maine, only a doctor is allowed to perform laser hair removal surgery.