Submitted by Armen Hareyan on Jan 27th, 2007
Rules for cosmetic use of lasers have been filed by the Medical Quality Assurance Commission and become effective March 1.
The final rules will protect patients having medical treatments for hair removal, rosacea, age spots, and similar skin procedures. The new rules set training and professional standards for laser light, radio frequency and plasma devices.
"We've seen cases in which people have been hurt pretty badly by improper use of these devices," said Blake Maresh, the commission s executive director. "There are a growing number of unlicensed or inadequately trained people using these devices and the rules will help us protect others from improper treatment."
The rules spell out what is required of physicians and physician assistants who operate these devices, who they can delegate to use them, and the degree of supervision required. The rules require patient evaluations by physicians or physician assistants prior to any treatment.
The rules apply to a narrow range of devices defined by the federal government as "prescriptive devices." They include devices that use a laser, non-coherent light, intense pulsed light, radiofrequency or plasma to penetrate the skin and alter human tissue. Penetrating the skin or altering human tissues constitutes the practice of medicine.
The commission began the rule making process in 2004 with three public workshops, followed by nine additional public meetings. It sent out drafts of the rules to the interested parties for comments before the final rules were adopted in August 2006.
The rules apply only to physicians and physician assistants; some professionals who operate lasers are regulated by other commissions, boards or agencies. According to the rules, licensed professionals practicing within their professional scope may use such devices under the supervision of a physician or physician assistant.
Source:
Washington State Department of Health 