PREAMBLE
FUE Europe Society adopts this Code of Conduct as a binding regulatory and ethical framework governing the professional behaviour, clinical conduct, and legal responsibilities of its members. The purpose of this Code is to ensure lawful medical practice in hair transplantation, protect patient safety, and uphold ethical and scientific standards. This Code is adopted under the authority of the Statutes and Regulations of FUE Europe Society, including Article XIII.
SECTION 1 – DEFINITIONS
Physician: A person holding a valid medical degree and an active license to practice medicine in the jurisdiction where the procedure is performed.
Technician: Any non-physician assisting in the clinical or surgical setting, regardless of training or experience.
Medical or Surgical Act: Any act classified as medical under national law, including diagnosis, administration of anaesthesia, tissue penetration, operative intervention, and management of complications.
SECTION 2 – SCOPE AND APPLICABILITY
This Code applies to all members of FUE Europe Society, as well as clinics, associates, and employees acting under their authority. Acceptance of membership constitutes full agreement to comply with this Code and all disciplinary measures arising from violations.
This Code does not replace national medical law. All members remain strictly bound by the legal and ethical obligations of their respective jurisdictions. Nothing in this Code may be interpreted to permit conduct that is unlawful, unethical, or inconsistent with physician-led medical practice.
SECTION 3 – LEGAL REQUIREMENT FOR PHYSICIAN-PERFORMED SURGICAL ACTS
3.1 The following procedures are legally defined as medical or surgical acts and must be performed exclusively by a licensed physician:
• Incision making and site creation;
• Punch scoring of follicular units;
• Any act involving cutting, penetrating, or altering living tissue;
• Administration of anaesthesia;
• Diagnosis, treatment planning, and management of complications.
3.2 Delegation of the above acts to technicians or any non-physician personnel constitutes unlawful medical practice and is strictly prohibited.
3.3 The physician must be physically present on the premises for the full duration of all surgical procedures and must personally perform all medical and surgical acts. Supervision does not constitute delegation, and no medical or surgical act may be performed by a technician under supervision or otherwise.
SECTION 4 – PERMITTED ROLE OF TECHNICIANS
4.1 Technicians may perform only non-medical, non-surgical tasks, including sorting, counting, hydration, and preparation of grafts.
4.2 Technicians may assist only after the medical acts have been performed by the physician and strictly under physician authority.
4.3 Technicians are expressly prohibited from performing incisions, extractions without prior physician scoring, administering anaesthesia, or conducting any act classified under national law as a medical procedure.
SECTION 5 – ADVERTISING AND REPRESENTATION
5.1 Clinics and member physicians must accurately represent the physician’s role in all promotional material.
5.2 Misleading advertisements implying technician-led surgery, symbolic physician presence, or ghost-doctor practices constitute a breach of this Code.
5.3 Claims such as “no scarring,” “scar-free surgery,” “guaranteed results,” or “100% success” are considered misleading and unethical and are strictly prohibited.
SECTION 6 – ENFORCEMENT AND DISCIPLINARY ACTION
6.1 Violations of this Code shall be subject to review by the appropriate governance body of FUE Europe Society.
6.2 Disciplinary actions may include:
• Formal written warning;
• Temporary suspension of membership;
• Permanent expulsion from FUE Europe;
• Notification to national medical regulatory authorities.
6.3 Failure to comply with national medical law shall constitute grounds for immediate disciplinary action.
SECTION 7 – PATIENT PROTECTION AND ETHICAL OBLIGATIONS
Members agree to adhere to the highest standards of medical ethics, including informed consent, confidentiality, evidence-based treatment planning, appropriate sterilisation, and truthful communication of risks and expected outcomes.
SECTION 8 – FINAL PROVISIONS
This Code enters into force upon adoption and remains binding for all members. By maintaining membership in FUE Europe Society, physicians affirm their full understanding of and compliance with this Code of Conduct.
