Ethics in Aesthetics: the new JAN campaign

March is a promising month. The mornings are getting brighter, the days longer and warmer, and winter's woes recede into the past. At JAN headquarters, March is an especially exciting month, as it heralds the start of our new campaign: Ethics in Aesthetics. Having met so many readers and contributors in recent months, it has been a pleasure to hear your opinions on the future direction that medical aesthetics should take.

Many readers have voiced concerns about the ethical issues that confront aesthetic practitioners. The first issue raised to us was the question of considering the patient and always acting in their best interests. The majority of practitioners are fully aware of the ethical codes that govern medical practice, and would only treat a patient if there is a clear indication to do so. However, it is the opinion of many that some practitioners do not conduct themselves with the ethical standards that are expected of aesthetic practitioners, jeopardising the welfare of patients and the reputation of this field of medicine.