London man guilty of falsely claiming to be an osteopath

The UK regulator of osteopaths, the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC), has successfully prosecuted David James Edward Thunder for unlawfully calling himself an osteopath.

On 16 April 2014 Mr Thunder appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to using the title of osteopath’ while not registered with the GOsC, contrary to Section 32 of the Osteopaths Act 1993. Since the passing of this Act the title ‘osteopath’ is protected and it is a criminal offence for anyone to claim, expressly or by implication, to be any kind of osteopath, unless registered with the GOsC.

Mr Thunder, who provided services at Neal’s Yard Therapy Rooms in Covent Garden was fined £500 and ordered to pay costs of £1,917.40 to the GOsC along with a Witness Tax of £50.

The charges related to information provided by Mr Thunder on his website where he described himself as a ‘medically trained osteopath’. He was removed from the GOsC Register on 12 September 2007 and is no longer entitled to describe himself as an osteopath.

It is important that organisations that employ individuals realise that osteopathic practice is legally restricted to those registered with the General Osteopathic Council. Patient safety is the primary purpose of restricting 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.

For details of a registered osteopath in your area contact the General Osteopathic Council on 020 7357 6655 or visit the GOsC website www.osteopathy.org.uk

ENDS
For further information contact:
The GOsC Press Office
Tel: 020 7357 6655 x245
Email: pressoffice@osteopathy.org.uk

Notes to Editors
The General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) has a statutory duty to regulate the practice of osteopathy in the UK. Osteopaths must be registered with the GOsC in order to practise 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.

The statutory Register of osteopaths provides a geographical index of all practising osteopaths, and is available to the general public and to healthcare providers online at: www.osteopathy.org.uk/information/finding-an-osteopath