Doctors' groups are calling for a crackdown on underqualified surgeons working in day clinics with an increase in the number of reports of botched procedures.
The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists raised serious concerns following the death of Jean Huang, 35, after she underwent breast surgery at her own Sydney beauty salon in August.
Ms Huang died in hospital after she was allegedly administered a local anaesthetic and breast fillers by Jie Shao, 33, at the Medi Beauty Laser and Contour Clinic in Chippendale.
A paper by the three organisations warns of a rise in serious patient harm as a result of procedures performed in an "office setting" where intravenous sedation and potentially toxic doses of local anaesthesia are used.
The paper recommends six minimum standards to protect patients treated in day clinics covering facilities and equipment, staff training, before and after care, as well as documentation.
The paper suggests all facilities should be accredited and equipment in day clinics be of the same standard as inpatient theatres and include machines required for resuscitation such as oxygen and defibrillators.
At present there's no consistent standard governing day clinics across Australia, ANZCA president David A Scott told AAP on Thursday.
Professor Scott insists there's an urgent need for a consistent approach across all states and territories.
"It's crazy that there are different standards," he said.
"I'd love there to be a federal approach to this but the reality is it's currently a state matter and that's why we've prepared this position paper."
ASPS president Mark Ashton says the standards outlined in the joint paper will help guide the development of uniform licensing and accreditation regulations across Australia.
Huang died in hospital following a procedure in her own clinic allegedly administered by unlicensed Chinese tourist Jie Shao.
Shao was charged with causing reckless grievous bodily harm and using poison to endanger life.
A second woman was subsequently charged with manslaughter, using poison to endanger life and hindering a police investigation.
"It's a tragedy that it's come to this and that people have suffered and died in Australia as a result," Prof Scott said on Thursday.
"We're better than this. Governments have had a wakeup call that we need a consistent approach."
