Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons

6 7 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 4, ISSUE 5 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 4, ISSUE 5 AUSTRAL I AN SOC I ETY OF PLAST I C SURGEONS (ASPS) allowed to use the term ‘surgeon’. We believe this distinction will protect the public and make titling transparent.” ASPS is keen to see the results of the Health Council’s investigation and predicts a significant tightening of legislation moving forward. Mr. Kennedy concludes, “We don’t know in what form they will be introduced, but I think we will definitely see a serious tightening of medical descriptors and titles as a result of the Health Council’s investigation into this matter. And as such, I think the public will be better protected against practitioners who seek to work outside their scope of practice without sufficient training. I also think that there’ll be a recognition of the serious cosmetic training that is done within the plastic surgical training scheme. This training scheme is a five-year, full-time program. Many of our trainees work more than full time and take on a very extensive study program on top of that, and they come out with comprehensive, hands-on training that has been supervised by expert specialist plastic surgeons. I think it’s important to recognise the work that they put in and the knowledge and experience they bring to the table as a result. We will continue to fight for their recognition, for the protection of our patients, and for the betterment of an industry that improves the lives of so many.”