Date: 12 May 2023
The RACGP has provided a submission to the Queensland Parliament’s Health and Environment Committee in response to the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Surgeons) Amendment Bill 2023.
The bill amends the National Law to protect the title ‘surgeon’ within the medical profession to safeguard the public and strengthen the regulation of cosmetic surgery in Australia, and clarify the decision-making authority of tribunals after hearing a matter about a registered health practitioner. Australian Health Ministers agreed to the amendments on 24 February 2023.
The RACGP is unable to support the legislation due to uncertainty around the implications of the changes for GP surgeons and proceduralists.
This latest response follows on from a submission made by the RACGP last year on medical practitioners’ use of the title ‘surgeon’ under the National Law. The RACGP supported changing the National Law to restrict the title ‘surgeon’ to specialist medical practitioners with significant surgical training, while opposing any changes that would exclude GPs from being able to use the title.