Police investigate unlicensed Botox treatments in Helsinki – six hospitalised
Helsinki police are investigating unlicensed botulinum toxin treatments offered on a mobile basis without proper licences and paid in cash. Six people who received the treatment were hospitalised this autumn.
Unlicensed Botox activity in Helsinki triggers police investigation
Helsinki police have cases under investigation in which botulinum toxin treatments are offered on a mobile basis without appropriate pharmaceutical or operational licences, according to mtvuutiset.fi. Payments are collected in cash. The cases are being investigated as unlicensed provision of healthcare services and unlicensed practice of a profession.
This autumn, six people who received botulinum toxin injections were hospitalised. The issue has come to prominence particularly since social media influencer Olivia Oras died in connection with a fat transfer procedure and related anaesthesia.
The Licence and Supervision Authority (LVV) has received an increased number of reports this autumn of suspected unlicensed aesthetic beauty treatments. Kirsi-Marja Santama, group manager of the social and healthcare registration and licences unit at the LVV, states that the authority has become aware of possibly mobile operations in which services are offered at individual premises.
According to Santama, the LVV has forwarded such cases to the police.
Supervision difficult for operators working through social media
The LVV's means of intervening in the situation are limited when the activity takes place through social media.
– A single Instagram post may not necessarily reveal what service the operator provides. The authority then finds it difficult to take action, Santama says.
If a company can be identified through, for example, a business ID number or website, the LVV can instruct the operator to register in the Soteri register, which is mandatory for all social and healthcare service providers. Otherwise, the authority will make a request for investigation to the police if necessary.
– In principle, the investigation of such unlicensed activity falls to the police, Santama states.
Scope of the phenomenon still unclear
Santama reminds that there is no certainty yet that unlicensed injection treatments are increasing.
– At this stage it is difficult to say whether this is a growing phenomenon or a phenomenon that has existed before but has come more to light due to recent publicity, she says.
Santama also notes that some operators may not be aware of Finnish legislation. In some countries, for example, cosmetologists can administer botulinum toxin injections, and the activity is not restricted in the same way as it is in Finland.
In Finland, the authorities regard aesthetic Botox treatments as healthcare services. Injections can only be administered by doctors or nurses under a doctor's responsibility.
Consumers have means to verify service provider reliability
Santama urges consumers to check the backgrounds of service providers before undergoing treatment.
– Perhaps consumers are now required to exercise greater awareness. We do have fairly readily available information about which companies are registered and where operations are conducted properly, she says.
Legitimate operators can be verified using a business ID number, and the qualifications of those administering treatments can be checked through the JulkiTerhikki service. Suspicious activity can also be reported to the authorities.
Source: Google News FI — Crime (fi)