Insurance warning over ‘fifo’ surgeons

THEY are known as “fifo” surgeons – highly paid foreign medics who fly in to perform operations in the UK before flying out again.

Foreign doctors have made affordable cosmetic surgery a reality for many in the UK.

But patients may struggle to take action against a foreign medic if they suffer complications.

Medical negligence lawyers say inquiries in relation to potential claims have increased from two or three per year to two or three per month in recent years.

Many foreign doctors do not have adequate indemnity insurance and patients may have to sue them in the native countries, a British surgeons’ group warned.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) is now calling for a change in the law to protect patients who they say are putting their lives at risk.

Michael Cadier, BAAPS President, said: “The issue is that you could have insurance in a country where you can’t make a claim unless you are in that country.

“So if your doctor is Greek, you need to go to Greece to sue him.

“We’ve had lots of patients who have had botched surgery but they can’t do anything about it.”

Pearl Richman from Kenilworth, Warwicks, won £43,000 compensation after an £8000 face lift left her scarred with one ear bigger than the other and a droopy eye lid.

Italian plastic surgeon Marco Moraci was suspended in 2015 following the work.

When his case came before the GMC it emerged that there were 60 previous complaints from British patients about his work. Lawyers have been unable to get redress from the surgeon. The London clinic he was working from has gone bust.

Pearl, 69, has called the situation a “nightmare”.