On October 2nd, 2012, a new Maryland law went into effect that enabled consumer (patients) to better select "qualified" physicians [Maryland House Bill 957; Medical News Today, October 2, 2012; http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/250932.php].
The new law requires physicians who publicize board certifications to announce their certifying board as well as their specialty. Additionally, the law states that the only acceptable, certifying boards, are the 24 members of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the alleged authoritative specialty board for all U.S. physicians.
Though relevant for all Maryland physicians, the law was particularly written for the "protection" of cosmetic (plastic) surgery patients. It serves to weed out many doctors from other medical specialties who claim, but are not properly trained, in plastic surgery.
In the field of cosmetic (plastic) surgery specifically, to be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) a physician candidate must satisfy the following criteria:
- Must be a graduate of an accredited medical school;
- Must have finished a prerequisite surgical residency program (generally 3 to 5 years);
- Must have completed training in an approved plastic surgery program (2 to 3 years);
- Must have been recommended for ABPS certification by a chairperson of their training program;
- Must have passed a written and an oral exam;
- Must have submitted inventory of all operations performed; and
- Must meet ABPS ethical and moral standards.
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