Are Disgraced Doctors Still Okay with ACCS ?

Disgraced; Dr Michael Zacharia

Disgraced; Dr Joseph Tiong

The Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery (ACCS) ardently seeks in its publications to convey the idea, that it views the interests, of cosmetic medical consumers, as paramount to its concerns

However I note that two conditionally registered doctors who have both been prosecuted and found guilty, by the medical authorities, of a variety of non-trivial medical infractions, continue to be listed as members of the ACCS.

I speak of course, of Dr Joseph Tiong, and of Dr Michael Zacharia who is also a former president and a former secretary of the ACCS.

In my opinion, if the ACCS is to warrant a perception of it, as a body that is unquestionably devoted to the interests of consumers, it should not, for one thing, allow membership for conditionally registered doctors.

I believe most consumers or intending consumers of cosmetic medicine would agree with me on that.

My blog readers are reminded that training and awards offered by the ACCS are not recognised or accredited by the Australian Medical Council (AMC).

The ACCS is a wholly private organisation.

The ACCS currently has an application before the AMC which is receiving a lot of strong opposition from the Royal Australian College of Surgeons, the Australian Heath Ministers' Advisory Council, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, and the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons.

In 2009 Dr Tiong made an individual submission to the AMC in support of the ACCS's application, as did many other individual doctors who are members of the ACCC.

In his submission, which clearly reveals his limited command of the English language, Dr Tiong stated the following amongst other things-

"By no mean ACCS is perfect and there are lots of work to be done to raise the standard and regulate the practitioners. On the other hand they are many good descent doctors in the College who can contribute to the Australian Society in a long term if they were given a chance to prove themselves."

To read Dr Tiong's submission in full click here

 

Royal Australian College of Surgeons Opposes ACCS Application

The Royal Australian College of Surgeons (RACS) has opposed the ACCS application to the AMC.

Click here to read more-

Royal Australian Society of General Practitioners Opposes ACCS Application

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) opposes the ACCS's application to the AMC.

Click here to read its opposing submission-

Health Ministers' Advisory Council Opposes ACCS Application

The ACCS application to the AMC is opposed by the advisory council to Australia's health ministers.
Click here to read

Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons Opposes ACCS Application.

The ACCS application to the AMC has been opposed by the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Click here to read more

ACCS Not Recognised or Accredited!

I am often contacted by confused intending consumers of cosmetic surgery who want to know about the standing of training that is provided by a private organisation which calls itself the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery (ACCS).

Doctors who adhere to this group are mostly GP’s who seek to perform cosmetic surgery.

In an attempt to dispel some of the confusion, and to address some of the pertinent questions properly, and especially as I am not qualified myself to assess the worth of medical training provided by the ACCS, I have written to the Australian Medical Council (AMC) about the ACCS, and issues pertaining to accreditation and recognition in cosmetic surgery, for greater clarity on this matter. (See copies of the correspondence concerned below)

This is what I have surmised as a result of the exercise-

• Medical training in cosmetic surgery provided by the ACCS is not recognised by the AMC, which is the only body nationally, that is authorised to accredit medical training programs on behalf of the Australian Government.
• Therefore if a doctor tells you he is accredited by the ACCS, you need to bear in mind that this accreditation, does not in turn enjoy the backing of the AMC.
• Further to this, cosmetic surgery is not a recognised specialty. So if a doctor says he/she is a ‘specialist in cosmetic surgery’, that is not true in the formal sense, since cosmetic surgery is not a recognised specialty.

Click here to learn about the differences between Plastic Surgeons, and 'cosmetic surgeons'.

The ACCS currently has an application for recognition of cosmetic surgery as a specialty in progress with the AMC.

To read submissions for and against this proposal click here.


Dr Michael Zacharia (left) a founding member of the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery (ACCS), and currently a conditionally registered doctor, appears to be handing an ACCS award to a colleague. ACCS awards are not accredited by the Australian Medical Council (AMC).

This is the email I sent to the AMC
From: Deidre Nolan [mailto:deidre.nolan@yahoo.com.au]
Sent: Monday, 5 July 2010 4:33 PM
To: Australian Medical Council
Subject: Accreditation and Recognition
To whom it may concern,
Could you please assist me with the following inquiries?
1) Besides the AMC, what other body is authorised to recognise medical specialties or accredit medical training programs on behalf of the Australian Government?
2) Does the AMC currently recognise cosmetic surgery as a medical specialty?
3) Does the AMC currently accredit any training programs provided by The Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery?
Thank you for helping me with these matters.
Yours sincerely
Deidre Nolan.

This is the response I received from the AMC

Tue, 3 August, 2010 5:13:12 PM

Accreditation and Recognition – Australian Medical Council

From:	AMC Recognition recognition@amc.org.au
To:	deidre.nolan@yahoo.com.au

Dear Deidre,
Thank you for your enquiry concerning the recognition and accreditation of medical specialties. Responses to your questions are provided below:
1) Besides the AMC, what other body is authorised to recognise medical specialties or accredit medical training programs on behalf of the Australian Government?
The AMC is the national standards body for medical education and training in Australia . The AMC is the sole accrediting authority for Australian and New Zealand medical schools and medical courses and Australian/ Australasian programs of specialist medical training. The AMC is also responsible for providing advice to the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing on the recognition of medical specialties.
Note at no stage is the AMC authorised to make a decision concerning the recognition of a medical specialty, the decision to recognise a medical specialty is currently made by the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing.
As you may be aware, Australia ’s new national registration and accreditation scheme commenced on 1 July 2010. From this date, a new National Law (the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009) will come into effect and the 10 health professions (which include medicine) will be regulated by nationally consistent legislation. As a result the Medical Board of Australia will now also be responsible for providing advice to the Ministers on the recognition of medical specialties for the purposes of registration. The Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing will continue to have responsibilities for decisions in relation to recognition for Medicare purposes.
2) Does the AMC currently recognise cosmetic surgery as a medical specialty?
Cosmetic Surgery is not listed on either the AMC managed List of Australian Recognised Medical Specialties (http://www.amc.org.au/images/Recognition/AMC-list-of-specialties.pdf) or the Medical Board of Australia’s List of Specialties, fields of specialty practice, and related specialist titles (http://www.medicalboard.gov.au/en/Registration-Standards.aspx), therefore Cosmetic Surgery is not recognised as a medical specialty.
3) Does the AMC currently accredit any training programs provided by The Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery?
The AMC does not currently accredit any training programs of the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery. The AMC accredits training programs in recognised medical specialties.
The Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery (ACCS) has applied for recognition of cosmetic medical practice as a medical specialty. The AMC has begun its detailed assessment of the case for recognition of cosmetic medical practice as a medical specialty. As the assessment is ongoing the AMC makes no comment on the advice it may provide regarding the assessment of the case for recognition of cosmetic medical practice as a medical specialty. The AMC anticipates that it will complete Stage 1 of the assessment and provide advice to the Minister by early 2011.
The recognition process is described in detail in The Recognition of Medical Specialties: Policy and Process available at: http://www.amc.org.au/images/Recognition/recognition-guidelines.pdf

Stacey Yeats

Research & Policy Officer

Australian Medical Council

Level 3, 11 Lancaster Place

Majura Park, ACT 2609

I hope this addresses your questions. Should you have any further queries regarding the AMC recognition processes please email: recognition@amc.org.au.
 

Opinion;Disgraced,Convicted Doctor- Joseph Tiong

Disgraced; Dr Tiong

Despite his current professionally disgraced condition, at one of his own websites, the following is being stated in relation to how great Dr Tiong really is-

"What separates our certified and experienced cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Joseph Tiong, from any other cosmetic surgeon is his ability to enhance natural beauty and subtly improve appearance. His combination of surgical artistry, advanced technology and sensitivity to a patient’s individual needs has established new standards of excellence in cosmetic surgery in Sydney."

The clear implication of this, and other similar assertions, on his websites, is that, he, Dr Tiong, is an absolute supremo and a total world-beater in the field of cosmetic surgery! No other cosmetic surgeon is quite as marvelous as him!

If this unverifiable slush makes you cringe, and feel a little bit sick, spare a thought for the likely feelings of the woman he has disfigured with the botched breast lift surgery, that he performed on her helpless, anaesthetised body, in the absence of her properly informed consent!

I wonder what she thinks of these golden claims about his 'surgical artistry' and his 'sensitivity to individual needs'!

It's surely got to hurt in her position, and I for one, certainly couldn't find any expressions of apology or regret concerning the tragic outcome he's caused for this person, amidst all the rather unrestrained puffery, at Joey Tiong's websites.

So it seems to me, that Dr Tiong's Medical Tribunal ordered re-training in medical ethics, really can't come soon enough!

It's not as if Dr Tiong is claiming that he's suffered a 'bum wrap' regarding the HCCC's prosecution, and in which he has been found to have been guilty of serious misconduct in relation to this patient- in fact- he actually made various admissions, illustrating the same- so in these circumstances, I have to say, why doesn't this man quit already, with the unseemly self aggrandisements, and demonstrate a little bit of decent public remorse on his websites, and maybe go and do some charity work or something, while he takes a really good look at himself.

Click on the link for the details of the full decision arising from the HCCC prosecution of the not so great Dr Tat Kong Joseph Tiong.

Despite his conditional registration, Dr Tiong is still listed as a member of the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery (ACCS).

Training and awards provided by the ACCS are not recognised or accredited by the Australian Medical Council (AMC).