Patient safety in aesthetic surgery soon to be ensured by ... - Ipras

PRESS RELEASE
- for immediate release -
Patient safety in aesthetic surgery soon to be ensured by European
standards
Brussels (27 April 2010) – The market of aesthetic surgery interventions – sometimes also
called cosmetic surgery - has increased dramatically over the last years. The growing
availability of travel, the internet and the numerous financial payment facilities also mean
that medical tourism in relation to aesthetic surgery has become a reality.
Nevertheless, many Member States have not yet put in place adequate regulations or
standards on how to provide these surgery services in a safe environment and consumers
are not always fully aware of the risks associated with aesthetic surgery.
Consequently, there is a rising need – especially from a patient safety perspective – to
ensure that patients can rely on safe aesthetic surgery interventions, whether it is at home or
abroad.
This has prompted CEN – the European Committee for Standardisation – to accept the
proposal from the Austrian Standards Institute (ASI) to create a new Project Committee,
CEN/TC 403 “Project Committee- Aesthetic surgery services”, the aim of which is to
elaborate European standards for aesthetic surgery services. The first meeting of this new
Project Committee is expected to be held in September 2010.
European standards are, from a legal point of view, voluntary, but their impact is significant.
In this particular instance, they will provide a real added-value for the aesthetic surgery
market by helping consumers to make informed choices, by creating an equal level playing
field for aesthetic surgery service providers, complementing existing legislation and filling
gaps where no regulation or standard exist. Aesthetic surgery standards will also contribute
to the European Commission’s patient safety communication COM (2008) 836 Final.
CEN has traditionally made standards for products. However, over the last few years, it is
moving towards elaborating standards for services, with a specific focus on healthcare and
social services standards. Aesthetic surgery services standards are a prime example of how
standards can be used as an alternative instrument for detailed European legislation.
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ABOUT CEN:
The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) is a business catalyst in Europe,
removing trade barriers for European industry and consumers. Its mission is to foster the
European economy in global trading, the welfare of European citizens, and the environment.
Through its services it provides a platform for the development of European Standards and
other technical specifications. CEN’s 31 National Members work together to develop
voluntary European Standards (ENs) in various sectors to build a European Internal Market
for goods and services and to position Europe in the global economy. By supporting
research, and helping disseminate innovation, standards are a powerful tool for economic
growth. More than 60.000 technical experts as well as business federations, consumer and
other societal interest organizations are involved in the CEN network that reaches over 480
million people.
For further information, please visit: www.cen.eu
Media contact:
CEN and CENELEC
Celine Oeyen
Manager Communication
: +32.2.519 68 85
: coeyen@cencenelec.eu