GOsC wins case against unregistered practitioner in Scotland

For immediate use

In a breakthrough legal achievement for patients and osteopaths in Scotland, the Court of Session has ruled that Richard Sobande, of Cameron Park Osteopathic Surgery in Edinburgh, must stop describing himself unlawfully as an osteopath.

Under the Osteopaths Act 1993, it is an offence for anyone to claim to be an osteopath unless registered with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC), the only authority in the UK that registers qualified osteopaths and sets standards of osteopathic care and conduct.

Although Mr Sobande has never been registered with the GOsC, he has presented himself to the public as an osteopath, on the plaque outside his surgery, on notepaper, and in advertisements in the Yellow Pages, knowing that he was breaking the law.

This is the first time the GOsC has used the civil courts in Scotland to obtain an order preventing unlawful use of the title „osteopath?. Previously, the GOsC has brought private prosecutions in England but this has not been possible in Scotland, which led the GOsC to lodge a petition with the Court of Session, resulting in an order from the Court preventing Mr Sobande from using the title „osteopath?.

GOsC Chief Executive and Registrar Tim Walker, said:

“This ruling sends out an important message for public protection in Scotland, that no illegal practitioner in Scotland is beyond the law. We will continue to take action against anyone who unlawfully describes themselves as an osteopath, in order to maintain the reputation of the osteopathic profession and, above all, to protect the public.”

The judgement in favour of the GOsC can be viewed online at: www.scotcourts.gov.uk/opinions/2011CSOH39.html 

ENDS

For further information, contact:
The GOsC Press Office
Tel: 020 7357 6655 ext. 245
Email: pressoffice@osteopathy.org.uk 

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) was established by the Osteopaths Act 1993 to develop and regulate the practice of osteopathy in the UK. 

We work with the public and the profession to promote patient safety by:

• registering qualified professionals
• setting, maintaining and developing standards of osteopathic practice and conduct
• assuring the quality of osteopathic education
• ensuring continuing professional development
• helping patients with concerns or complaints about an osteopath.

Osteopaths must be registered with the GOsC in order to practise in the UK. It is a criminal offence for anyone to describe themselves as an osteopath and practise as such, unless registered with the GOsC. 

The Statutory Register of Osteopaths is available on the GOsC website at: www.osteopathy.org.uk.

Alternatively contact the GOsC?s Osteopathic Information Service on 020 7357 6655 x242.