Queensland has become the first state in Australia to introduce legislation that will allow only doctors with advanced surgical training to use the title of "surgeon".
At the moment doctors can use the title without completing formal training.
Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said the landmark bill, which she introduced in parliament this morning, would protect patients.
"The public reasonably assumes that doctors calling themselves a surgeon or a cosmetic surgeon or an aesthetic surgeon have at least a minimum level of advanced specialist surgical training," she said.
"The bill will make it an offence for a medical practitioner who is not a member of an approved surgical class to knowingly or recklessly use the title surgeon, or to otherwise hold themselves out as being a surgeon.
"The bill will also prevent employers and other people from falsely claiming a medical practitioner is a surgeon."
The legislation has been referred to state parliament's Health and Environment Committee.
If passed it will make it an indictable offence to improperly use the title of surgeon, which would carry maximum penalties of $60,000 or three years' imprisonment for individuals, or $120,000 for a body corporate.
'No set parameters'
Australia's medical regulator announced a review of the cosmetic surgery industry in November 2021 after a joint investigation by Four Corners and Nine newspapers.
The investigation uncovered serious hygiene and safety breaches and procedures by Dr Daniel Lanzer that left patients in extreme pain, requiring further medical treatment and suffering from ongoing physical and psychological issues.
The nation's health ministers earlier this year approved the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Surgeons) Amendment Bill 2023 and other states and territories are expected to follow Queensland's lead.
Gold Coast reconstructive surgeon Dilip Gahankari welcomed the legislation and said it was in the best interest of patients.
"Previously, the cosmetic surgery industry has been the most unregulated area of health," he said.
"While a lot of extensive procedures take place within a broad range of cosmetic surgeries, there were no set parameters as to who should be doing them."
Dr Gahankari said Australia's cosmetic surgery industry was still plagued by so-called cowboy operators who were not adequately trained to complete the procedures they advertise.
"It goes without saying that the surgeons who should be doing these procedures are the ones who are trained in terms of the techniques as well as the abilities to manage the risks and complications that can occur," he said.
"This is a good start and I hope it will raise awareness for our patients."
