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StumblePublished Monday, Sept. 21, 2009 | 2:57 p.m.
Updated Monday, Sept. 21, 2009 | 3:02 p.m.
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Board of Medical Examiners Executive Director Louis Ling has firm positions, two in fact, on whether medical assistants should be held accountable for injecting cosmetic fillers.
When Ling is corresponding with the Attorney General’s office about cracking down on unlicensed assistants like Betty Guerra, arrested for injecting Botox at a local medical spa, he advocates prosecution under a law that restricts who may inject dangerous drugs. See the e-mail I’ve attached wherein Ling notes the board has been “consistent for years” that medical assistants can’t perform injections. But when Ling is responding to media inquiries about whether Guerra’s counterparts throughout the state should be punished, including the unlicensed assistant of medical board member Dr. Benjamin Rodriguez, Ling is willing to buy ignorance of the law as an excuse.
Ling claims Guerra was acting alone, unsupervised by a medical doctor. Dr. Robert Feingold, the former medical director where Guerra worked, told the Review-Journal that he spent four hours a day in the medical spa. He also penned a letter detailing the treatments he’d authorized Guerra to perform, including injections.
Ling, in an effort to deflect criticism for facilitating arrests for non-compliance rather than adequately informing his licensees of the law, says the media are blurring two issues. So let’s focus – two unlicensed assistants, both within reach of their nursing credentials, injecting cosmetic fillers with the knowledge and consent of their supervising physicians - one in a medical spa that competes for business with plastic surgeons and the other in the office of a plastic surgeon, a member of the medical board who has advocated that state lawmakers take action on unlicensed assistants in medical spas, but not in doctors’ offices.
Now I’ve got the clear picture.
On tonight’s program, attorney Jacob Hafter, who filed a lawsuit this morning claiming the medical board violated the open meeting law by cutting off public comment before the vote. Also on the program, plastic surgeon Lane Smith and medical spa owner Tracy Hurst discuss the impact of the emergency regulation on the industry.
Perhaps the board will also look into the use of "medical assistants" in Dr's offices who tell patients they are nurses. The Board also needs to address assisted living facilities who use unlicensed personnel to pass meds to frail elderly (a 72 hour course does not make it safe!)
The entire State Board of Medical Examiners at least for the last 5-years needs investigated individually for each of their conflicts of interest.
Is their a single Board member that is beyond reproach?
The interconnecting relationships and single minded retributions to protect their side deals must stop.
The individual list of each Board physicians could be head line news except that news events continue to be squashed.
Perhaps the Board should be abolished entirely and all current responsibilities transferred directly to the State attorney general and the AG investigate the past and current events still unresolved.
At least then some belief that State Laws may be enforced and the guilty Board physician members exposed for their deeds can be discussed and then punishment rendered.
Nastradamus...Sounds like you have some inside information to share. I think you should get in touch with Dana Gentry or Jon Ralston. These two want to get down to the bottom of the corruption. They will expose the unjust actions...pass on your knowings. They have proved that they are not members of the "SQUASH COMMITTEE". Do a good deed...you may save some lives!!!!
This board needs to be exposed. You need to tip them off...no need to identify yourself they are smart and savvy reporters, that don't back down from intimidation. They do an exceptional job exposing the TRUTH!
The BOARD has really stepped over the line...coordinating arrests, when their own board member is guilty of the same behavior...AMAZING!!!
I haven't blogged before but this matter tugs at my core.
I've been a patient of Dr. Rodriquez's for over ten years. Yes, Dr. Rod has injected my face with fillers. He's also sutured up my kids on occasion be it a dog bite or accident.
He's a compassionate man, full of honor,integrity and the need to serve the WORLD. Money doesn't motivate Dr. Rod. helping people is the key to his happiness.
Check out his website a rodmd.com and find out for yourself how dedicated he is to doing the right thing. You'll be amazed.
Yes, I can understand why some might say the boards decision is self serving but with a little knowledge I'm sure you'd agree it's ultimately all about protecting the community.
Now, let me pose a few realistic questions.
Do manicurists, facialists, hairdressers, massage therapists have to go thru some sort of rigorous licensing process? Yes.
Would you want just anybody to be able to set up shop and become the Professional BOTOX INJECTOR without a Dr. being present? I'd think not. If you had a bad reaction or paralyzed nerve, would you have recourse? Nope don't think so.
I would think it reasonable to assume that these procedures fall under the umbrella of a Dr. of Dermatology or a Dr. of Plastic Surgery.
The thought that people are upset that they're losing their $300.00 dollar an hour job for unskilled, uneducated labor doesn't bother me. Yes, you may say it's not fair. Life isn't fair. We each have the ability to strive to do our best in whatever field we choose. To be a doctor requires an education. You can't just go out and choose to inject people when common sense says it should be a doctor or registered nurse. Especially a toxic drug like Botox. Make sense?
I'd encourage everyone to step back and look at the big picture. Our state has far larger issues to deal with than challenging the medical board for doing the right thing.
Find a great Dr. and you'll find peace in knowing you can still have your botox.