Non Medical Personnel Operating Lasers

It never ceases to amaze me how many medical products are marketed for use to the non-medical market. There are so many skin care products making outrageous claims and product manufacturers making claims about their devices and all the while, marketing them to people who cannot legally perform services with the device. This problem is more prevalent today than ever before and this is counter intuitive since there has never been more regulation in the health industry and the FDA has stepped up compliance. 

I have previously written about skin care products that claim to alter and repair DNA (this is really funny because it is so outrageous); other products that claim to treat rosacea (even though when you read the package insert it refers to treating “redness”) and devices that are marketed to the aesthetic market when they are being offered to treat medical conditions. Sometimes the problem is that the device is a medical device being offered to non-medical markets. Other times the problem is that the device is treating medical conditions or the use of the device is such that it constitutes the practice of medicine.

I was reading Day Spa magazine today and I ran across an advertisement that I have seen for MANY years. It was for the Lamprobe. Interestingly enough, I met the owner about ten years ago and asked how he is marketing the device to the non-medical market. He had an unsatisfactory answer. It is not my intention to malign any particular product, but this one typifies the problem.

The Lamprobe advertises that it treats skin tags, broken capillaries, cholesterol deposits, cherry angiomas, fibromas, spider nevi, clogged pores and milia. Very interesting. An esthetician can treat NONE of these proposed uses. How can this product be ethically marketed to the non-medical aesthetic market when the user cannot legally perform the treatments? Virtually all of these proposed uses are outside the scope of license of an esthetician and they are clearly and squarely within the parameters of medicine. 

Just because a product is marketed to you, does not mean that you are legally permitted to use the product or servoce. The laser companies would gladly sell a laser to my dog Stoli if he would pony up the money!!

Paddy Deighan JD PhD
http://www.medicalandspaconsulting.com

Connecticut Passes New Medical Spa Regulations

Connecticut is another in a series of states that has taken action in regard to the regulation of medical spas.  The new legislation in Connecticut seems fair and a well thought out effort to protect consumers in the state.

Many within the various related industries, such as aesthetics, believe that the regulation of medical spa procedures it’s a turf battle waged by physicians who are trying to protect their exclusive right to perform cosmetic medical procedures.  However, this law seems appropriate and my vast experience as a consultant to state medical boards and boards of cosmetology is that this type of regulation is borne out of a desire to legitimately protect citizens of a state.

Medical spas in Connecticut that offer cosmetic medical procedures must have an acting medical director who is a state-licensed physician. Bill SB-1067, which goes into effect on October 1, 2013, was passed by the state’s legislature on June 5, 2013. It states that any medical spa that offers procedures defined under the state’s sales tax laws as “cosmetic medical procedures” employ or contract with a medical director. An MD, PA, APRN or RN may perform the procedures. If a PA, APRN or RN is performing the treatment, he or she must be acting under a physician’s supervision and control. In addition, the facility must post notice of the name and specialty of the medical director, and he or she must perform an initial physical assessment of the patient before the procedure is performed. Violators are subject to fines of up to $500 per day while the violation continues.

In my opinion, there will be more new laws such as this one as state’s wrestle with this growing problem.  My only question in regard to this law is whether the nurses have to be employed by the physician. This is a growing issue.

If you wish to view a synopsis of this new law, log into http://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/BA/2013SB-01067-R01-BA.htm

Please do not forget to "like our page on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/LawOfficesOfPaddyDeighan

Paddy Deighan J.D. Ph.D

http://www.medicalandspaconsulting.com

SEO basics as Google Implements Penguin 2.0 Part II

Many SEO enthusiasts are in a state of panic over announced changed to Google search engine algorithms. Google is gradually implementing Penguin 2.0 and many are concerned that there SEO efforts will be adversely affected.

I decided to write some SEO basics that pertain to most search engine since Google isn't the only one ya know!! BING has made significant strides lately.

1. Check the Popularity of Keywords

In order to obtain traffic from keyword searches on the major search engines like Google, BING and Yahoo!, you need to be writing about a topic that people want to read about and are actively looking for information about. One of the easiest ways to get a basic idea of what people are looking for online is to check the popularity of keyword searches on websites like Wordtracker, Google Trends or the Yahoo! Buzz Index. These will each give you a clear indication of the keywords that are being searched and you can check many different phrases.

2. Select Specific and Relevant Keywords

It is prudent to select one keyword phrase per page then optimize that page to that keyword phrase. Keywords should be relevant to the overall content of your page. Furthermore, choose specific keywords that are more likely to give you a better search results ranking than a broad term would. For example, consider how many sites use the keyword phrase of "ancient pottery." The competition for ranking using that keyword is likely to be tough. If you choose a more specific keyword like "13^th Century Chinese Pottery," the competition is a lot easier.

3. Select a Keyword Phrase of 2 or 3 Words

Statistics show that nearly 60% of keyword searches include 2 or 3 keywords. Accordingly, optimize your pages for searches on keyword phrases of 2 or 3 words to drive the biggest results.

4. Use Your Keyword Phrase in Your Title

Once you select the keyword phrase you plan to optimize your page for, make sure you use that phrase in the title of your blog post (or web page).

5. Use Your Keyword Phrase in Your Subtitle and Headlines

Utilizing subtitles and section headlines not only makes the blog more visually appealing on a text heavy computer screen, but it also gives you additional opportunities to use your keyword phrase.

Paddy Deighan JD Ph.D

http://www.homesavers.pro

SEO Basics as Google Implements Penguin 2.0

Many SEO enthusiasts are in a state of panic over announced changed to Google search engine algorithms. Google is gradually implementing Penguin 2.0 and many are concerned that there SEO efforts will be adversely affected.

I decided to write some SEO basics that pertain to most search engine since Google isn't the only one ya know!! BING has made significant strides lately.

1. Check the Popularity of Keywords

In order to obtain traffic from keyword searches on the major search engines like Google, BING and Yahoo!, you need to be writing about a topic that people want to read about and are actively looking for information about. One of the easiest ways to get a basic idea of what people are looking for online is to check the popularity of keyword searches on websites like Wordtracker, Google Trends or the Yahoo! Buzz Index. These will each give you a clear indication of the keywords that are being searched and you can check many different phrases.

2. Select Specific and Relevant Keywords

It is prudent to select one keyword phrase per page then optimize that page to that keyword phrase. Keywords should be relevant to the overall content of your page. Furthermore, choose specific keywords that are more likely to give you a better search results ranking than a broad term would. For example, consider how many sites use the keyword phrase of "ancient pottery." The competition for ranking using that keyword is likely to be tough. If you choose a more specific keyword like "13^th Century Chinese Pottery," the competition is a lot easier.

3. Select a Keyword Phrase of 2 or 3 Words

Statistics show that nearly 60% of keyword searches include 2 or 3 keywords. Accordingly, optimize your pages for searches on keyword phrases of 2 or 3 words to drive the biggest results.

4. Use Your Keyword Phrase in Your Title

Once you select the keyword phrase you plan to optimize your page for, make sure you use that phrase in the title of your blog post (or web page).

5. Use Your Keyword Phrase in Your Subtitle and Headlines

Utilizing subtitles and section headlines not only makes the blog more visually appealing on a text heavy computer screen, but it also gives you additional opportunities to use your keyword phrase.

Paddy Deighan J.D. Ph.D

http://www.medicalandspaconsulting.com

Are We living in America or a Land of No Freedom of Choice?

Virtually every day, there is a story about something that we cannot eat or drink...or DRIVE. I am a car fanatic and when I travel to Europe, I see all of the fuel efficient and cool cars that we cannot have because of our burdensome regulations - Citroen, Alfa Romeo, Peugeot, Renault (most are French, perhaps THAT explains it - LOL), Opel (owned by GM) and Ford of Europe and Australia (will not export many types of cars to the US market). The Ford Falcon is still being produced...but not for use in the USA. Anyway, I read on the internet today that NYC has now banned the delivery of 2 liter Coca Cola with PIZZA delivery. Hey, Bloomberg, guess what ya clueless bureaucrat, PIZZA ain't real healthy either! Why don't you ban delivery of that too? Eateries are now banned from serving soft drinks in a size larger than SIXTEEN ounces in NYC. Bloomberg has taken action against salt, sugar, trans fat, smoking and baby formula. While these may be noble causes, this is AMERICA and we are allowed to be unhealthy. We are allowed to be a lot of things and it is not the government’s role to regulate BEHAVIOR!! Does this idiot think that DIET Coca Cola is healthy??? Many suggest that is may be unhealthier than regular Coca Cola…but in any event, who are these bureaucrats that keep ramming this stuff down our throats (pun intended). THIS IS AMERICA, and AMERICA is SUPPOSED to be synonymous with “freedom of choice”. Coca Cola has Ryan Seacrest as a spokesperson...is wholesome, pure Ryan Seacrest advocating bad behavior? Would he be banned from drinking it in NYC? I have stated it before and I will state it again…it is not the politicians’ fault that these things happen; it is OUR collective fault for electing these well-intentioned, but delusional idiots. Nothing will change until we have a better quality of politician…and who would want to run the way the media eviscerates anyone short of Mother Teresa (God rest her soul). Oops, I said “God”…now the media will eviscerate me for writing a religious blog… Paddy Deighan J.D. Ph.D http://www.medicalandspaconsulting.com

A Colossal Waste of Tax Payer Dollars..Wisconsin Monkey Study

I was minding my own business working out. The TV was on HLN and I was watching a Jane Velez piece on University of Wisconsin-Madison study. In these experiments, baby monkeys are separated from their mothers right after birth and later subjected to scary tests to provoke fear and anxiety. The monkeys are then killed and dissected and their brains are studied. Wanna know the truly scary part. WE ARE PAYING FOR THIS!!! It is a federally funded study!!! As a scientist, let me make the conclusion for these hapless researchers. Taking a baby monkey (or any animal) away from its mother at birth and then subjecting it to fear will cause what reaction???? Hmmm, lets cypher on this one (a la Jethro Bodine)......Hey, I got it!!! HOW 'BOUT NOT A GOOD REACTION!!!! THERE, you idiots just saved millions of taxpayer dollars. Kinda reminds me of when I was asked to comment on a Michigan State study. They spent one a and a half years and millions of taxpayer dollars studying the effect of obesity upon diabetics in the Puerto Rican community. My response: "Ladies and gentlemen than you for coming,,,,as you know, Michigan State spent millions of dollars and one and a half years studying the effects of obesity on diabetics in the Puerto Rican community...I will summarize the results: "IT DOESN'T HELP" Thank you all for coming!!! LOL A doctor in NY still has not spoken to me years after that presentation!! Paddy Deighan J.D. Ph.D http://www.medicalandspaconsulting.com

Having a Hard Time Understanding This One

Lance Armstronmg is all over the news...what he did was a disgrace to himself and our nation. However, he has done a lot of good for a lot of people. That part is genuine and true. Here is the part that I do not understand. The United States Postal Service is running in the red to the tune of BILLIONS of dollars per year, YET, they have spent $30 million sponsoring Armstrong's racing team??? WHOA!! What benefit is there to the USPS in sponsoring a cycling team?? How about NONE, zero, natta?? The USPS closes 10% of its locations during the past two years yet they are sponsoring a CYCLING team?? While I am on the subject, they closed 10% of their locations but did not lay off ONE person!!!! Small wonder they are running in the red!!! Paddy Deighan J.D. Ph.D http://www.medicalandspaconsulting.com