Health ministers must act on use of title ‘surgeon’

The AMA is calling on health ministers meeting later today to act to restrict the use of the term ‘surgeon’ in the light of the release of an independent review into the regulation of cosmetic surgery in Australia by Ahpra and the Medical Board of Australia. 

In welcoming the release of the independent review, the AMA said its 16 recommendations appeared to be a positive step in the right direction, but many details still needed to be finalised in consultation with the profession.

AMA President Professor Steve Robson said, “While it will take time to implement some of these changes, Ahpra and the MBA need to swiftly act on those recommendations which can bring about change now, including a crackdown on advertising.

“In the meantime health ministers should start the work necessary to ban the use of the term ‘surgeon’ by anyone other than medical practitioners with significant accredited surgical training when they meet on Friday.

“We’re also calling on the Queensland parliament to ditch legislation permitting practitioners using testimonials, including those performing cosmetic surgery,” Professor Robson said.

The AMA made a submission to the review in which it argued for a regulatory approach that provides certainty to patients and practitioners alike including:  

• Further exploration of the establishment of an endorsement in cosmetic surgery for medical practitioners who are not plastic surgeons;  

• New information being provided to consumers – if Health Ministers decide to restrict the access to the use of the titles of surgeon and cosmetic surgeon; and  

• Better collection of data and information about cosmetic surgery in Australia to inform policy, regulation and research. 

The AMA is also concerned that many consumers are currently likely to conclude that all practitioners currently using the title “cosmetic surgeon” will have successfully completed a significant program of post-graduate surgical training. Therefore, the AMA argued in the submission, as well as in a separate review currently being undertaken for Health Ministers, that restricting the title of “surgeon” will go some way towards providing increased understanding of the qualifications of any practitioner who performs surgical procedures. 

“There are many reputable doctors with extensive experience and recognised surgical qualifications who are performing cosmetic surgery to the highest of standards and it is deeply unfortunate that we have seen patients harmed as a result of the actions of a minority of doctors,” Professor Robson said.