Just to add my support to the comments made by Vasant. Also, for
information, Vasant is preparing a draft policy statement so that the
position of BMLA will be clear and consistent.

Regards,


Harry Moseley

Hon. Reader
Consultant Medical Physicist
The Photobiology Unit
University of Dundee
Ninewells Hospital & Medical School
Dundee
DD1 9SY
United Kingdom

Tel: (0)1382 633894
Fax: (0)1382 646047

>>> [log in to unmask] 14/06/06 7:30 PM >>>


In a message dated 14/06/2006 10:19:26 GMT Standard Time,  
[log in to unmask] writes:

Dear  Members,

I have been contacted by a patient who has suffered some  reaction to a
laser
treatment for hair removal. 

He is asking if  we can recommend 
Caroline, BMLA cannot expose itself to a potential litigation,  since 
recommendation can bring the BMLA into the realm of 'corporate 
liability'. BMLA's 
role in the laser science is to promote education and take  part in any
advisory 
role to Government, institutions etc. The advisory role  should never
extend 
to an individual patient, either before or after the  treatment.
 
If any patient phones or sends an e mail, my response has always  been
to 
tell the patient to seek GP advise.
 
I had discussed your earlier mail about the same matter with Harry.  It
is 
necessary to have a policy decision as to the remit of an individual who
 is 
wearing a hat of an exec member. As an individual we can do what we
like, but  as 
a member of the BMLA, we have to work within the remit of the BMLA. It
has  
never been and it will never be the role of the BMLA to take on a
clinical 
issue  for an individual patient. Such an action can take the BMLA into
a 
potential  liability situation for which we have no indemnity cover.
 
Circulating a correspondence from a patient about his condition  also
leads 
to breech of confidentiality particularly for those of us who are 
clinicians 
and are thus governed by strict code of practice. 
 
Hope I have made my position as a clinician and as a member of the  Exec

clear. Any deviation from above would require advise from Medical 
Protection 
Society to extend the indemnity to cover the exteded role. This may  be
provided, 
but there will be cost implications, and as BMLA treasurer, I have  to
advise 
that we have neither funding nor a resource to underwrite this. 
Regards, 
Vasant Oswal.

any  experts in this field whom I can ask
for an opinion? Can I ask anyone who  is willing, to help?

If you can help, please contact: Dr Gerhard  Compion
<[log in to unmask]> as
soon as  possible.



Thanks,
Caroline