The Medical Association of Patras has compiled dozens of reports of so-called “Botox parties” held in private homes, along with seminars allegedly run illegally on weekends at hotels in Patras. The complaints are expected to be forwarded to the public prosecutor this afternoon.
According to the association’s president, Anna Mastorakou, 42 further complaints concern medical procedures performed at beauty and nail salons, and criminal proceedings are being considered in five of those cases.
“We are finding that beauty salons are injecting substances that may even be sold in bulk, with no known origin. This means the materials entering the body may not have been tested or certified, and there may not even be an antidote if complications arise. We have reports of many cases of disfigurement,” Mastorakou said.
She clarified that the complaints so far do not involve hair salons or gyms. Investigators have also found that some treatments are carried out at aesthetics centers next door to doctors’ offices. “Certain medical treatments are being performed in neighboring premises that are not licensed for that purpose, and that is where we have focused our attention,” she said.
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Inspections and a nitrogen leak
A sweeping round of inspections in Patras, where the Medwatch system has not yet been rolled out, identified four medical practices out of 573 that were illegally advertising medical procedures. A practice where a nitrogen leak occurred on October 5 is also under investigation.
Inspectors have additionally found medical procedures being performed at nutrition centers, physiotherapy clinics, dental offices, and premises where osteopaths apply manual techniques.
Because the association can inspect only doctors’ offices, Mastorakou called for joint inspection teams that include the police. She also highlighted gaps in the enforcement of penalties and in the regulatory framework defining which medical devices doctors may use, and which procedures they may perform, according to their specialty.