Surgeons 'seek to protect title'

[Northerner]

Leading doctors are calling on the government to legally protect the title "surgeon".

A Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) poll of 2,000 people found 95% expect someone using the title "surgeon" to be medically qualified.

There are no restrictions on who can use the title - but the RCS wants only those with a medical degree and surgical training to be able to do so.

But others who use the title defended their right to do so.

It takes around 16 years of training and experience for surgeons to reach consultant level.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18828208

"The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS)"

really? 😱

 

[trophywench]

I didn't know that about Podiatric surgeons, I would have assumed that such a person was a surgeon who had specialised, same as eg an Endocrinologist is 'only' a doctor who has specialised.

I know the doc who whips warts etc off at my surgery, is only licensed to do skin ops, cos it says so on his FRCS stickyfoot on the wall and he never claims otherwise.

OTOH at my old surgery two of the GPs still also practised what else they did - ie one was an anaesthetist and another WAS a plastic surgeon - and she used to do the warts etc. She used a very old-fashioned technigue for stopping bleeding which did not use stitches and didn't leave a scar. The new lot do! The difference being you have to be able to judge when you can and when you can't use this stuff she used - and I spose these days they think it's safer to always do the more aggressive one since you aren't in a hospital environment after the op and should you decide to bleed to death after, no-one expert will be on hand to stop you!

 

[Mark T]

Anyone can call themselves a surgeon? 😱 Although I think it's illegal to pass yourself off as medically qualified when you are not?

I wonder how much chance they have. The engineers have been pushing their institutions to legally protect "engineer" for some time now. The excuse that has always been given is that it's too late and the horse has already bolted. Which would I guess apply to a limited degree in this case too.

 

[Vicsetter]

They don't help themselves do they though. A surgeon starts of as a Doctor and then changes to a plain old Mr to give themselves status.

 

[HelenM]

They don't help themselves do they though. A surgeon starts of as a Doctor and then changes to a plain old Mr to give themselves status.

Not originally, it's because traditionally they trained through apprenticeship rather than as academic doctors .

My mother had distorted, arthritic toes removed at an NHS clinic. I was surprised to realise that the surgeon wasn't a doctor but the info leaflet made it quite clear what his qualifications were.
According his CV (for his work in a private hospital)He is extremely experienced and I would suggest well qualified to carry out the procedure.

He completed his Podiatry training in 1991 and his Fellowship in Podiatric Surgery in 1997. He is examiner for the Faculty of Surgery, College of Podiatrists and one of 20 Tutors for the College of Podiatrists. ***** University appointed him lecturer in 2001. Clinical interests include foot pain diagnosis and bunions; research interests include foot surgery outcomes.

He was appointed Consultant Podiatric Surgeon for Bournemouth and Poole PCT in 2004, providing a range of corrective foot surgery, predominantly carried out as day case