title: [Aesthetic medicine and aspects related to liability, medical professional and social law].
abstract: There are no special legal arrangements for the field of aesthetic medicine; rather, the general medico-legal regulations apply although they raise specific questions as far as aesthetic medicine is concerned. Legally, a contract exists between physician and patient which is also applicable to aesthetic medicine. This means that the physician owes the patient only the provision of a proper, non-defective service, but does not need to guarantee that it actually leads to the desired outcome. Before performing a medically non-indicated procedure the physician is obliged to provide the patient with particularly thorough information about this procedure. Various problems and issues are raised by the advertising limitations for medical professionals and the maintenance of the boundaries confining the special field of aesthetic medicine. Medically indicated procedures are suitable for statutory reimbursement if the patient suffers from "physical disfigurement" or somatic complaints that lead to considerable impairment and if there are no other, cheaper treatment options available.
authors.affiliation: kanzlei@ra-dr-jansen.de
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jansen
mesh_terms: D003357:Cosmetic Techniques; D004954:Esthetics; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007883:Legislation, Medical; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations