Botox treatments prompt warning

Doctors have issued a warning about the dangers of using excessively high doses of the potentially fatal toxin botox in cosmetic treatments.

The Journal of the American Medical Association reports four cases where patients were given doses many times higher than the estimated lethal dose.

The treatments were given using toxin intended for laboratory use.

Experts said UK patients were at risk from delays in deciding if those who can give botox should be restricted.

Lethal doses

Botulism is a rare paralytic illness caused by the botulinum toxins. (full news here)