New Jersey Medical Malpractice Lawyers Review Laser Hair Removal Lawsuits Against Non-physician Operators

Extreme caution must be used when selecting the operator for laser skin surgery. The increased popularity of skin surgeries such as laser hair removal has been matched by a rise in risky practitioners. Physicians from other disciplines, non-physician operators (NPOs), and non-medical facilities such as “medical spas” are treating patients despite the safety risks.

NPOs accounted for 75% of hair removal lawsuits from 2004-2008, according to researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles. The researchers found that this figure jumped to 85% between 2008 and 2012 despite NPOs only performing one-third of the total treatments. This huge proportion of medical malpractice lawsuits against NPOs highlights the need for patients to select qualified, medically-trained physicians to perform laser skin surgeries.

Often a physician will delegate duties to another individual, but liability still remains on the supervising physician. For laser surgeries, the physician is liable for actions of the NPO within the scope of duty. In the study published in JAMA Dermatology, the results showed 43% of injuries following cutaneous laser surgery involved an NPO. There are many inherent risks associated with laser surgeries, so it is best to employ good judgment in selecting your practitioner. A warning from the American Society for Dermatological Surgery cautions that many clinics advertise results that are just not realistic.

There are no federal guidelines for laser skin surgeries in the United States, but 35 states have implemented laws that classify laser hair removal as a practice of medicine. Only 26 of those states require on-site medical supervision when NPOs perform the procedure. Eleven other states do not have any regulations regarding laser hair removal. New Jersey is a state that offers the upmost protection by requiring laser hair removal to be performed by a licensed physician. A laser device for hair removal cannot be delegated to any unlicensed individuals including nurses or technicians.

Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP: New Jersey Medical Malpractice Lawyers Protect Victims of Laser Surgery Negligence

The elevated risk of injury from a non-physician operator performing a laser surgery can place you in unexpected harm.  Deceptive marketing from “medical spas” or other facilities make them appear trustworthy, but may result in permanent scarring, skin discoloration, and burns. New Jersey medical malpractice lawyers of Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP are dedicated to achieving justice for individuals victimized by non-physician operators. If you or someone you know has suffered as a result of laser hair removal or laser skin rejuvenation, call us today at 732-777-0100 to schedule a free consultation or contact us online. Our law offices are conveniently located in Edison, Red Bank, and Toms River, New Jersey.