MMC stunned by doctors' involvement in illicit cosmetics industry

MMC stunned by doctors' involvement in illicit cosmetics industry

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KUALA LUMPUR: THE Malaysian Medical Council is alarmed by some of its members’ involvement in the illicit cosmetics industry.

Particularly disturbing for the body that governs practicing doctors in the country is the trend by some of these medical professionals, who have no issues with instituting unsanctioned and potentially harmful cosmetics products, into the veins of those asking them to do so, with total disregard for the Hippocratic Oath that they had taken. The New Straits Times’ Special Probes Team had gone undercover to expose registered doctors who had no qualms about putting the public’s health at risk by injecting unknown substances, including those containing poison, into those willing to pay RM75 at least for their service.

The team showed MMC elected council member Dr David Quek Kwang Leng footage taken during the Special Probes Team’s undercover operation. The footage showed rogue doctors instituting hazardous concoctions of beauty chemicals intravenously. He was visibly distraught by what he saw.

“I am very disturbed by this, (doctors providing beautifying injection service to patients).

 “We have been hearing about this (doctors’ involvement with the illicit cosmetics industry)... but we didn’t think it would be this bad,” he said, his eyes glued to the laptop in front of him.

 Dr Quek said for doctors, arguments like “the patient was the one who wanted it” was no excuse, adding that: “It is the duty of a doctor to ensure that whatever is being prescribed to their patient, is safe”. He said they could be charged with endangering the lives of their patients. “It is the doctor’s responsibility to check on the safety of whatever it is that is going into their patients’ body, whether orally, on their skin, or injections.

 “If anything goes wrong, the onus is on the doctor... Doctors should never accept any injectable form of vials from patients without knowing the source. We don’t know if they are poisonous or have been contaminated or compromised in any way.” Dr Quek also reminded the public of the health consequences of their obsession with getting immediate beauty results via injections. “There is such a high demand for it and I don’t understand why. The public should get away from this perception that anything you inject into your veins will make you look 10 years younger or more energetic. “Health is not something that we can attain purely by taking supplements, injections or Vitamin C. Most of the time, it should be from you... living a healthy lifestyle, meaning eating a healthy diet, more fruits, vegetables and hydrating well.” Echoing Dr Quek was Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr John Chew Chee Ming, who warned doctors of the possible legal repercussions if they were caught injecting their patients with beauty concoctions.

 “Doctors should not get involved in illegal drugs. The penalty is severe... We can be jailed, not only de-registered. Doctors must only carry out their practice within the confines of law.” Dr Chew also told the public to report to the authorities if they knew of any doctors or clinics providing beauty injection services. “The public has to report them, so that evidence can be gathered. “If the patient fails to do so and harm is done, they cannot blame the system because the authorities would not have known about such practices,” he said.