Osteopathy as a profession has undergone many changes over recent years, most importantly, it is one of the first complementary therapies to have undergone self-statutory regulation as a result of the Ostepathy Act 1993. With registration the title ' Osteopath ' will be protected and hence, only those on the register by May 2000 will be able to use the title.
This is mainly to protect the public but also acts to reassure other primary health care workers that the profession is regulated and hence ensuring high standards of training, compulsory continual professional development and indemnity insurance. The act also has a clause for fitness to practice.
The council designate of the GOsC are made up of 24 memebers, 12 being osteopaths and the remainder are lay members or educationalists.