How Laser Treatment Works

Laser beams are basically rays of light that come with extreme focus and heat, and when these beams are focused on a person's skin, it has shown an ability to remove wrinkles, age spots and other blemishes. The result of such a treatment is that the patient looks younger without having to go through invasive surgical procedures.

There are two generally known types of laser procedures, and they are known as ablative and non-ablative treatments. Ablative laser treatments actually burn the top layer of the skin from the surface, and this top layer is known as the epidermal layer. The layer of skin that's left behind after an ablative laser surgery is the dermis. Non-ablative laser treatments target areas under the surface of the skin, and instead work to remove the blemishes by prompting the growth of new skin tissue to replace the damaged skin on the surface.

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Washington Requirements to Administer Laser Treatments

Washington has a specific set of criteria in existence that must be met in order to properly administer laser treatments. These policies are set out by the Washington State Department of Health - Medical Quality Assurance Division. The policy generally states that:

1. Laser skin treatments are considered part of the practice of medicine in Washington.
2. Prior to any laser treatment, the overseeing physician must complete a full medical examination and evaluation as well as obtain informed consent from the patient regarding the procedure and the fact that a non-doctor could be the one administering this treatment.
3. A doctor is allowed to delegate this procedure to an allied health professional as long as it falls within the professional's scope of practice and a written protocol is prepared for the professional to follow.
4. The doctor must ensure that the laser professional has the appropriate and documented record of training and that said professional can only perform a procedure within the parameters of this protocol.
5. The physician is required to provide an appropriate level of supervision and be available to handle any potential complications that arise.
6. Even if the physician does not perform the laser treatment, he or she is ultimately responsible for the safety of the patient.

These guidelines have been put in place in order to establish clarity for everyone involved with these procedures, particularly if something goes wrong.

Potential Problems with Laser Surgery

One of the reasons that this policy directive was disseminated to medical professionals in Washington is because it tends to provide an overview of the types of laser skin treatment malpractice that could arise in any given situation. Below are two of the more common problems that arise:

1. Failure to supervise - Physicians tend to be busy, and when a laser professional presents written proof that he or she possesses the proper amount of experience in handling these procedures, it's possible that the doctor could simply allow the technician to handle the situation alone. However, when something does go wrong, every second in which the doctor is not present and treating the issue could lead to a lifetime of suffering for the patient receiving the treatment.
2. Protocol violations - While this situation tends to arise almost as a result of a failure to supervise, there have been instances in which the technician has made a decision to take a step that falls outside the written protocol that has resulted in an injury. That's one of the reasons that the policy statement specifically includes the language that holds the physician responsible regardless of whether the doctor or the technician actually made the injurious mistake.

How to Proceed with a Washington Medical Malpractice Lawsuit

While medical and procedural advancements are always exciting, the use of laser technology is also dangerous. If you or someone you love has been harmed as a result of laser skin treatment malpractice, you need to seek immediate legal help. Contact the laser malpractice attorneys at the Washington law firm of Phillips Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Washington Laser Malpractice Lawyers

Laser technology has increased the possibilities in the medical world in many ways, and there are two types of treatments that tend to be used on skin for rejuvenation. However, the Washington Department of Health has published specific policies and protocols to follow, and if anything goes wrong the physician and not the technician is responsible, including situations that involve failure to supervise and stepping outside the written protocol, so if you or someone you love has been injured by a laser skin treatment, contact the laser malpractice attorneys at Phillips Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.

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