Responsible prescribing for cosmetic procedures

This article sets out the Jount Council for Practitioners/Cosmetic Practice Standards Authority position regarding responsible prescribing of POMs used in aesthetic practice. The guidance accords with that set down by the majority of the healthcare professional regulators and by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. With regard to delegated prescribing, prescribers are reminded that patients remain under the oversight of the prescriber, requiring that the prescriber must be familiar with the patient through an initial face to face consultation and diagnostic assessment of the patient's suitability for treatment. This applies to the routine/planned/repeat administration of medicines that are used specifically for cosmetic purposes, such as botulinum toxins, injected local anaesthetic or topical adrenaline, and the emergency use of medicines such as hyaluronidase. Prescribers are also reminded of their obligation to address the existence of competing interests and to place the needs of the patient first and be transparent about their actions.