female genital surgery
summary
In accordance with the MIPS Constitution and section 6.1.2 and 12.5.3 of the MIPS Members’ Medical Indemnity Insurance Policy, MIPS advises members that effective 25 November 2011, the benefits of MIPS membership including insurance cover will not apply in respect of vaginal or external genital surgery subsequently undertaken that does not meet the current Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RANZCOG) Statement C-Gyn 24 Vaginal ‘Rejuvenation’ and Cosmetic Vaginal Procedures.
In addition, no membership benefits including insurance cover will be provided in respect of elective vaginal or genital surgery involving minors where such procedures are undertaken outside of a public hospital.
background
The Membership Assessment, Advisory and Acceptance Committee (MAAAC) of MIPS recently considered the issue of female genital surgery. Some of the more important areas of consideration included:
- the requirement of all members that they hold appropriate recognized qualifications, training and experience for the health services they provide
- the recently reviewed RANZCOG Statement C-Gyn 24 Vaginal “Rejuvenation “ and Cosmetic Vaginal Procedures
- MIPS Constitution 1.2 Objects of the Company (c) ‘To promote honourable and to discourage irregular practice’
- the need to protect members from allegations of genital mutilation by ensuring that the public is appropriately protected.
The applicable MIPS Members’ Medical Indemnity Insurance Policy clauses are:
6 cessation of specified clinical activities
6.1.2 a registration board or specialist college does not endorse such treatments, procedures or practices.
12.5 we will not insure you:
12.5.3 if you continue to use or carry out a treatment, procedure or practice for longer than 14 days after you have received notice from us asking you to stop providing or carrying out the treatment, procedure or practice.
General practitioner members should also consider any referrals to specialists in respect of such procedures in light of this communication.
Members should address queries in writing through Member Services for the attention of the MAAAC.