New legislation will restrict the use of the title ‘surgeon’ to registered medical practitioners in one of the recognised specialities of surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, or ophthalmology.
The Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Surgeons) Amendment Bill, just passed in the Queensland Parliament, legally protects the title ‘surgeon’ from being used by any doctor without the necessary qualifications and training.
The Queensland Parliament is the host jurisdiction for the National Law. This means now that the Amendment Bill has been passed in Queensland, the changes will automatically apply in most states and territories after assent.
Before this, any registered medical practitioner could call themselves a ‘surgeon’, even if they were not registered in a surgical speciality or had not completed specialist training in surgery.
Before this, any registered medical practitioner could call themselves a ‘surgeon’
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) said the reform is primarily aimed at cleaning up the cosmetic surgery industry in Australia.
