Gibbons endorses Botox regulation, meeting scheduled

By Cy Ryan

Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009 | 3:57 p.m.

CARSON CITY – Gov. Jim Gibbons has endorsed a proposed regulation to allow tighter controls over who may administer Botox treatments.

The governor has agreed the state Board of Medical Examiners may meet in emergency session Friday to consider the regulation to stop unlicensed medical assistances from administering Botox. But the governor first had to find that an emergency existed.

Daniel Burns, communications director for Gibbons, said Nevada “is knocking on the door” of flu season and the governor doesn’t want to see residents having problems getting their flu inoculations.

He said the board will consider a regulation to prohibit medical assistants from administering Botox, cosmetics and other drug groups. But they would still be able to deliver such things as flu shots, vitamins and other medicines.

The law has been unclear if medical assistants can administer these drugs. He said this proposed regulation has been ambiguous whether the unlicensed assistants could administer the drugs.

Douglas Cooper, chief of investigations for the medical board, said this proposed regulation would not hinder medical assistants from giving flu, vitamin, allergy or other shots.

Burns said once the medical board approves the regulation, it will be up to the governor to sign or not sign it.