title: [Compensation of unforeseeable medical complications following cosmetic surgery finally made possible by ONIAM].
abstract: In the absence of any proven medical fault by a plastic surgeon, the patient could not obtain compensation through national solidarity (as stipulated by the Law of March 4th 2002). Indeed ONIAM (France's National Office for Medical Accidents' Compensation) has always rejected any claims on the grounds that cosmetic surgery differs from medical care. Through its judgment of February 5th 2014, France's final Court of Appeals settled the question and considered cosmetic surgery as medical care; in case of serious injuries following unforeseeable medical complications, the patient may be compensated by ONIAM, as with any other medical act. This jurisprudence will certainly result in medical liability insurers be no longer those only responsible for compensation of injuries following cosmetic surgery. Plastic surgeons' insurance premiums should logically become cheaper.
authors.affiliation: Département d'anesthésie-réanimation, centre hospitalier Princesse-Grace, boulevard Pasteur, 98000 Monaco, Monaco. Electronic address: alexandretheissen@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Theissen
authors.affiliation: Cabinet d'avocats, 48, rue Gioffredo, 06000 Nice, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pujol
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie orthopédique et traumatologique, centre hospitalier Princesse Grace, boulevard Pasteur, 98000 Monaco, Monaco.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lascar
authors.affiliation: SHAM assurances, 18, rue Édouard-Rochet, 69008 Lyon, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Flavin
authors.affiliation: SHAM assurances, 18, rue Édouard-Rochet, 69008 Lyon, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fuz
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie et anesthésie ambulatoire, centre hospitalier Princesse-Grace, boulevard Pasteur, 98000 Monaco, Monaco.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Niccolai
mesh_terms: D035881:Compensation and Redress / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*
keywords: Acte médical; Aléa thérapeutique; Chirurgie esthétique; Compensation; Cosmetic surgery; Cour de cassation; Final court of appeal; Indemnisation; Jurisprudence; Medical act; ONIAM; Unforeseeable medical complications