"ELIXIRS'' OF YOUTH UNDER THE MICROSCOPE - PIS INVESTIGATES SPECIFIC CASES OF DOCTORS, ACTS, SPECIALTIES AND PREPARATIONS - RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITIZENS - Filenews 19/9 by Marilena Panayi
Ongoing investigations by the Ministry of Health and the Police, doctors and "doctors", "experts" and "alternatives", are under the microscope of competent authorities. Before the Pancyprian Medical Association specific cases which are currently under investigation, while in the last fortnight one could say that two countries, Greece and Cyprus, are in a state of exacerbation.
In the public debate, everything: From Botox and fillers, to the intravenous administration of hormones, peptides and others and, of course, plasmapheresis. The death of Giorgos Mazonakis sparked public discussions, positions, a demand for control and the imposition of penalties.
Where do the responsibilities of the competent Authorities and the competent Bodies of each state begin and end and, of course, what measures can citizens take in order to protect themselves? What are the responsibilities of registered doctors who offer unrecognized treatments for non-medical purposes and what is the responsibility of citizens?
Regeneration, detoxification, rapid weight loss, immune boosting, skin younger by a decade, at the center of discussions.
"The care of the body and the body. Sports, proper nutrition, taking vitamins and other supplements on medical advice (to meet the real needs of a person and if it is deemed medically necessary), the right lifestyle and the right care with methods applied by each registered professional of the right professional team, are legitimate acts, if not imperative for the purposes of prevention and protection of each person", stressed to "F" the president of the Ethics Committee of the PIS, Michalis Anastasiadis.
"Even acts of aesthetics, internationally recognized, when offered by truly experts, are legitimate." However, he added, "the problem and insecurity begin where the use of terminologies that refer more to elixirs of youth and miraculous practices begins."
"Even the terms 'longevity' and 'healthy aging' have been misrepresented in recent years. Healthy ageing, i.e. aging well, without our lives being disrupted by health problems that immobilize us and force us to continuous treatments, is a goal of both the EU and doctors around the world. And there is a way to achieve it. Certainly, however, it is not achieved by falsifying the medical act or by subjecting our body to treatments that do not have the clinical documentation and scientific recognition to treat conditions related to serious health problems."
On the other hand, "the use and exploitation of such terms by some is not in itself proof that the service they offer is medically recognized or that it has a documented benefit for the purpose for which it is advertised."
A doctor is one thing and a specialist is another
One of the points on which the PIS focuses is the distinction between registration in the Register of Doctors and the possession of a recognized medical specialty. Just because someone is a registered doctor, doesn't mean they have a specialty or adequate training for every medical procedure. The citizen must ask to be informed about the exact specialty and experience of the professional in the specific intervention.
According to Mr. Anastasiades, neither the presence of a doctor in a center nor the mention of his name in an advertisement is enough to make every service offered there scientifically acceptable. The same applies to titles, emblems and certifications that may create impressions without clarifying which recognized specialty the professional holds.
Check the space too
The citizen must check not only the doctor but also the place where the act will take place. A premises should not be considered a legitimate medical center simply because it uses the words "clinical", "medical", "anti-aging" or "wellness" in its name. Licensed hospitals must have a posted operating license, which reflects the specialties and services they are entitled to offer.
"Natural" does not mean safe
Doctors also warn against the terminology used in the promotion of drugs and other preparations.
Designations such as 'natural', 'supplement', 'peptide', 'anti-aging treatment', 'wellness' product, or 'for research use only' do not prove that a product is safe, effective, or approved for human use.
Peptides, hormone analogues and other biologically or pharmacologically active substances for weight loss, muscle growth, rehabilitation, anti-aging or "longevity" may be promoted on the market.
As it has been emphasized, "and by the competent state Services, the Pharmaceutical Services, especially in recent months, during which we have had specific cases in Cyprus as well, in products of unknown or uncertified origin, purity, actual concentration, dosage and sterility cannot be taken for granted. It is also not known whether the correct conditions of production, transport and storage were observed or whether undeclared and potentially toxic substances are contained."
Citizens are asked not to obtain medicines or injectables through social networks, unchecked websites and unauthorized persons or premises.
Ongoing investigations and inspections in all centers
Investigations are currently underway following complaints that have reached the PIS in recent days and concern its members, i.e. doctors, who allegedly provide services for non-medical purposes. These cases, however, are simply added to what the Association had announced at its recent press conference.
As Mr. Amatasiadis reminded, "after the completion of the mapping of these structures and the services they seem to provide, by the Ministry of Health, the PIS will examine which of its members are active in centers that advertise anti-aging, wellness, weight loss or "regenerative" treatments, what their role is and what actions they undertake." According to Mr. Anastasiades, it will be investigated whether the services provided are in line with the recognized specialty, education and experience of each doctor, whether they are based on scientific documentation and whether the legislation and the Code of Medical Ethics are complied with.
Cases of doctors without specialisation who may run centres or take up duties beyond their qualifications are also examined, as well as possibly misleading references to titles or qualities.
The chairman of the Ethics Committee of the PIS, underlined that every doctor bears personal scientific, legal and ethical responsibility. It must reject collaborations and acts without a documented medical indication, use legally traded and approved products and act in an appropriate, licensed environment. The presence of a doctor, he noted, does not automatically legitimize a controversial service. Where evidence emerges of unscientific, anti-medical or potentially illegal practices, the prescribed disciplinary procedures of the PIS will be activated.
What is not scientific proof
The following are not sufficient documentation:
>> Personal testimonies.
>> Social media posts.
>> An influencer's followers.
>> The before and after photos.
>> The use of medical terminology.
>> The presence of a white apron.
>> An eye-catching professional emblem, the phrase "used abroad", the phrase "many celebrities do it", the statement that the product is natural, the marking "for research use only".
