Only medical practitioners should use surgeon title
Submissions this week call for restrictions on the titles ‘podiatric surgeon’ and ‘oral surgeon’.
We have made two submissions to consultations on the titles ‘podiatric surgeon’ and ‘oral surgeon’, calling for these titles to be changed and for surgeon to be used only by medical practitioners with additional surgical training.
We have consistently advocated for greater clarity and restriction around the title ‘surgeon’ to prevent potential public confusion and ensure that only qualified medical practitioners with advanced, accredited surgical training can use this title. We were frustrated that the amendment to the National Law last year to protect the title surgeon only applied to medical practitioners.
In our submissions we call for legislative change to the Health Practitioner National Law, specifically amending Section 115A, to reserve the title ‘surgeon’ exclusively for medical practitioners with recognised surgical training.
The submissions also emphasise our call for robust consumer education to accompany any changes to protected titles. By educating the public on the qualifications associated with specific medical and health practitioner titles, Ahpra can help patients make informed choices, minimising the risk of unintentional misrepresentation by non-medical practitioners.
AMA submission to the rapid targeted review of the use of the title ‘oral surgeon’
