Yesterday I had an irate mother phone me for help. Her 15 year old daughter had received a tattoo from a local shop without parental consent. Today I was sent a link to a Toronto Star article by Robert Cribb outlining a number of horror stories coming out of shops in the Toronto area. A serious problem has been developing over the past 20 years, and the authorities seem to be reluctant to act.

A few years ago, in Walkerton, Ontario, an inspector was negligent, and the water supply was contaminated. The provincial government reacted by introducing sweeping, onerous, and unnecessary changes in water management across the entire province. On the other hand, the public regularly has invasive procedures performed in personal service settings, most of which are being performed by technicians with little or no training, and no concern for potential consequences, and provincial and municipal governments have systematically ignored the problems for two decades.

I find that the vast majority have no idea how to find a competent and safe piercer. They rely on advice from friends, or they compare prices, and opt for the cheapest.