N.C. Medical Board Examines Policies On Laser Hair Removal

RALEIGH, N.C. — A committee from the North Carolina Medical Board met Wednesday to discuss tightening policies concerning laser hair removal.

The meeting prompting change comes after the January death of Shiri Berg, a North Carolina State University student who died from an overdose of lidocaine.

The medical board is considering whether doctors need to oversee the hair removal procedure on-site and how medicine from clinics is distributed.

In March, it heard from people who perform the treatment. On Wednesday, board members used that information and made recommendations based on what they learned.

Committee members said the procedure is surgery and should be overseen by a doctor, but the doctor does not need to be on-site.

"If I were a physician, I think I'd probably be around more than not," said the medical board's attorney, Thom Mansfield.

They also believe patients should be examined by a doctor before the procedure.

Berg's father, Ron Tzur, was at that meeting and said he believes the North Carolina Medical Board has the power to save lives.

"You need to have someone to treat anesthetic when it goes wrong," Tzur said. "That's exactly what happened to Shiri and there was no one there to help her."

The policy committee will make a recommendation to the full board in July.

Berg's family is still considering a lawsuit against the parties they believe were involved in her death, which include the Premier Body Laser Clinic in North Raleigh, the doctor and the pharmacy.

They will not make a final decision on the lawsuit until the medical board makes its decision.