Our statement on reports of Jeffrey Epstein funding osteopathy course for Reinaldo Avila da Silva
We are aware of media reports that the husband of Peter Mandelson, Reinaldo Avila da Silva, was in receipt of funds from Jeffrey Epstein to fund an osteopathy course in the UK in 2009.
Reinaldo Avila da Silva did not graduate from an osteopathy course and has never been registered with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC). Therefore, he is not able to practise osteopathy in accordance with the law within the UK.
All osteopaths are highly trained in standards of competence and ethics to keep patients safe, and are required to maintain their knowledge, skills and behaviours in accordance with our standards. We have powers to restrict or remove the registration of osteopaths who do not meet our standards for the purposes of public protection.
Section 32(1) of the Osteopaths Act 1993 (the 1993 Act) makes it a criminal offence for a person who is not registered with the GOsC to describe themselves, either expressly or by implication, as any kind of osteopath. S32(1) applies to the United Kingdom.
Find out more about our work as a regulator of osteopathy
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