Monday, January 14, 2008

Florida, you deserve better then this from your state medical board


Today I feel like throwing some rhetorical grenades!

I'm reading today's New York Time health section when I came across another article about cosmetic medicine encroaching on retail environments, "Having a Little Work Done (at the Mall" when the photo below caught my eye.





The photo's caption reads "At the Sleek MedSpa in Aventura, Fla., Martha Mena undergoes a procedure to dissolve cellulite. Lorianne English, a nurse practitioner, gives the shots as Ms. Mena’s friend Erika Galan looks on."

THIS PICTURE AND THE PRACTICE DISPLAYED IS OBSCENE!

Let me get this straight: You have an unsupervised allied health provider (a nurse practitioner in this case) in the mall delivering off-label medications in an injectable form they're not approved for, which also have a track record of potentially serious complications.

Is the Florida State Medical Board asleep at the wheel? While Florida is liberal with scope of practice issues with their nurse practitioners and physician assistants, I'm taken aback that this is not being scrutinized closer. I got interested enough that I sent an email to the office of Quality Assurance in the state medical board asking for a position on this. I'm sure they'll get back to me el pronto. (snark!)


4 comments:

Lois W. Stern Author Sex, Lies and Cosmetic Surgery said...

Bravo to Dr. Oliver! I am NOT a plastic surgeon nor am I involved in the profession except as an author, but I too was horrified by this article and the accompanying photo. I am certainly not opposed to cosmetic procedures in theory or practice, but I can't repeat this caution often enough: These are medical procedures. You can shop for a bargain at Marshalls, but don't shop for a bargain when it comes to your face or body. Look for a Board Certified plastic surgeon, head and neck specialist or dermatologist who specializes in aesthetic surgery relevant to your needs. This is your life. Respect it!
Lois W. Stern
Author of SEX, LIES AND COSMETIC SURGERY
http://www.sexliesandcosmeticsurgery.com

Anonymous said...

I agree Florida medical community is lacking.

Dr. Rob Oliver Jr. said...

Lois & 'sis,

thanks for the notes!

Lois W. Stern Author Sex, Lies and Cosmetic Surgery said...

Dr. Oliver, I am a strong advocate for your field and have interviewed some of the most active members of the ASAPS for my articles and books. I think you might be interested in some of the articles I have written, which are posted at my website: http://www.sexliesandcosmeticsurgery.com/ under the ARTICLES tab. Tour around the site a bit. I think you will enjoy it. If you send an e-mail to: cosmeticsurgery@optonline.net I will be glad to send you my January newsletter.

Keep up the good work.

Very best,
Lois W. Stern
Author of EX, LIES AND COSMETIC SURGERY