Bustos v Hair Transplant Pty Ltd

In *Bustos v Hair Transplant Pty Ltd and Anor* [1997] NSWCA 55, the New South Wales Court of Appeal considered a dispute between Mr Bustos and Hair Transplant Pty Ltd and its director. The case concerned the enforceability of a contract for hair transplant services.

The central legal issue before the Court of Appeal was whether the contract for hair transplant services was void for illegality, specifically due to a breach of the *Medical Practitioners Act 1938* (NSW). The question arose as to whether the services provided by Hair Transplant Pty Ltd constituted the practice of medicine, which, if performed by an unregistered person or entity, would be unlawful.

The Court of Appeal found that the services provided by Hair Transplant Pty Ltd did not constitute the practice of medicine as defined by the *Medical Practitioners Act 1938* (NSW). The Court reasoned that the procedures, while involving medical expertise, were essentially cosmetic and did not fall within the scope of regulated medical practice. Therefore, the contract was not void for illegality. The Court applied the principle that a contract will only be void for illegality if it contravenes a statute in a manner that the statute clearly indicates an intention to render such contracts void.

The appeal was dismissed, with the Court of Appeal upholding the primary judge's decision that the contract was valid and enforceable.