‘Surgeons’ wrongly using title accused of duping patients

Doctors have called for the Government to legally protect the term after a number of patients have come forward following botched operations by people holding the title.

Patient Bill Crampin said his visit to a podiatric surgeon, who had no medical degree, was a “complete disaster”.

The 66-year-old architect from Nottingham said his quality of life is a “shadow” of what it was following a bungled operation by the surgeon – who he assumed was medically qualified.

In June 2008 he went to a Harley Street podiatric surgeon to correct a problem of “going over” on the out-step of his right foot.

The medic told Mr Crampin he needed a sub-talar operation which involves a screw being inserted between the heel bone and the one above to lock them together to prevent the overturning movement.

But the surgery was a failure and it left Mr Crampin unable to walk without being in considerable pain.

“Each step was like a knife being inserted under my ankle,” he said. “Getting up in the night without callipers was impossible without the use of a Zimmer frame.”

Mr Crampin went to see an orthopaedic surgeon who informed him that he had had the wrong operation on the wrong part of his foot. He was forced to have corrective surgery.

“It has been three years of complete disaster,” he said.

RCS president Professor Norman Williams added: “It is extremely worrying that in the health sector clarity regarding job titles is lacking.

“Patients undergoing treatment have a right to know the credentials of the person to whom they are entrusting their safety.

“The law can be very strict in protecting working titles and we believe the same legal cover should be extended to the title surgeon.”