Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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1073. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the regulation of the advertising of elective ophthalmology procedures such as laser refractive surgery; and his views regarding any inappropriate sales practices that may exist. [34214/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Following concerns expressed in relation to the safety and quality of surgical cosmetic procedures in Ireland, the Office of the Chief Medical Officer prepared, in collaboration the Irish Association of Plastic Surgeons, a short guideline containing a number of recommendations for individuals who may be considering surgical cosmetic procedures. Much of this guidance and the recommendations for patients, which was issued in July 2012, is equally relevant to those patients considering laser refractive surgery and cosmetic procedures. The guidance is available on the Department's website.

With regard to the provision of information to the public and advertising by a registered medical practitioner, the Medical Council guidance states that a medical practitioner must make sure that the information published in the advertisement is true, verifiable, does not make false claims or have the potential to raise unrealistic expectations. This should include information about any inherent risks associated with the services provided.

All medical and surgical procedures contain a certain element of risk and patients should seek to inform themselves of both the risks and benefits of any procedures before making a decision to proceed. A very important consideration is the qualifications of the person carrying out the procedure and the quality of care and after-care provided.