General Osteopathic Council successfully prosecutes Michelle Davies for unlawfully describing herself as an osteopath

Ms Davies was found guilty at Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court on 3 October 2022, on one count of using the osteopathic title while suspended from the Register during a fitness to practise investigation by the GOsC. Using the osteopathic title while suspended from the Register is contrary to section 32(1) of the Osteopaths Act 1993.

Since the passing of the Osteopaths Act 1993, the osteopathic title is protected, which means it is a criminal offence for any person to describe themselves as, or to imply that they are, any kind of osteopath unless they are registered with the GOsC.

Patient safety is the primary purpose of protecting the use of the osteopathic title. The GOsC ensures that the practitioners on its Register are safe and competent osteopaths who follow strict codes of conduct.

Ms Davies, while suspended from the Register on an interim basis until the conclusion of her fitness to practise case, is not permitted to use the title of osteopath. The offence related to information that Ms Davies continued to provide on her website which implied that she was an osteopath.

Ms Davies was fined £800 and ordered to pay this amount at a rate of £100 per month, starting on 31 October 2022. Ms Davies was also ordered to pay costs of £500 to the GOsC and a Victim Surcharge of £85.

You can find details of all osteopaths registered in the UK by searching the GOsC’s Register: osteopathy.org.uk/register-search