FAQs

FAQ  

Q: What does ‘General Surgeon’ mean? Does that mean you do every type of surgery?  

A: ‘General Surgeon’ can be a confusing or even misleading term. Fully-trained surgeons in most specialties in Australia are required to be Fellows of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS).  Within the RACS, General Surgeons are the single largest group.    Essentially, General Surgery means surgery of the abdomen, but also of some other areas or conditions, depending on what the individual surgeon has chosen to train in.  My practice includes endoscopy and colonoscopy, as well as surgery of the abdominal wall (hernia repair) and the abdominal contents, including laparoscopic gallbladder surgery and bowel resections. I also treat other conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, skin cancers and haemorrhoids, and do vasectomies.   

Q: Why do you have “mister” in front of your name - aren’t you a doctor?    

A: The title “mister” is traditional for male surgeons in many Commonwealth countries.  This custom arose because up until the mid-19th century, surgeons were not really doctors.  That is, unlike ‘proper’ doctors (physicians), who were trained at university medical schools, trainee surgeons were simply apprenticed to a qualified surgeon, without going to medical school beforehand.   Today of course, all surgeons are fully qualified doctors, who after finishing medical school and internship, do another 10 years or so of full-time training, specifically in surgery.  In Australia and New Zealand, this training is closely overseen by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, including rigorous examinations before qualifying as a Fellow of the College (‘FRACS’).   Personally, I like the title “mister”, because it tells us something interesting about surgical history.  However, I also believe that overridingly, it’s very important for patients to feel comfortable talking to their doctor.  Therefore I don’t mind if patients address me as doctor, mister, or even by my first name if they prefer.   

Q: What’s the origin of the name ‘Comus’?   

A: It’s the name of a play by John Milton (1608 - 1674), that my father read when he was at school.  My parents simply liked the name.