An Italian gynaecologist may have landed himself in trouble after marketing himself to women on Facebook promising clearance-sale prices.

In one message, Carlo Matrisciano encouraged a woman who had just accepted his friend request to take advantage of the special check-up offer between April 22 and April 25 in which a swathe of consultations and tests are offered for just €39.

The money will buy you a gynaecological consultation, a breast consultation, a gynaecological ultrasound and a colposcopy – a special screening that may include taking a tissue sample to test for cervical cancer.

Medical practitioners who spoke to The Sunday Times of Malta said this would be a “giveaway” price.

“A colposcopy normally costs in the range of €300, at least. The clinic’s fee alone will be in the order of €150,” a gynaecologist said.

Dr Matrisciano is duly registered with the Medical Council, even though his name does not feature in the specialists list for Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

However, when contacted yesterday, the Italian medic, 53 from Naples, said he was duly registered with the council even as a specialist. “I have the documentation to prove it,” he insisted.

Doctors who spoke to this newspaper confirmed that it may be the case that the council’s registered has not yet been updated.

However, that still leaves Dr Matrisciano with the problem of marketing himself on Facebook. Advertising by doctors is completely banned. The Medical Council’s ethical guidelines even prevent doctors and dentists from distributing unsolicited leaflets with their contact details and qualifications.

When questioned about this, the doctors said it was simply a matter of the gynaecologist coming from a different professional culture.

“I am Italian and in Italy this sort of thing is allowed. I’m sorry, I didn’t know you could not do this, I won’t do it again, what can I say,” Dr Matrisciano said.

Asked about his highly competitive rates, Dr Matrisciano insisted that this was his mode of operation. “The equipment needed belongs to me and I do everything myself. I don’t depend on others so I don’t have any extra costs. Very often I would carry out a colposcopy and not charge for it. If I have the equipment and it’s there, why not do the screening?” he said.

An official comment could not be obtained from the Medical Council. At 3pm on Friday afternoon, a secretary at the council’s office said “the weekend” had started and one could not expect an instant comment from the council.

Martin Balzan, general secretary of the Medical Association of Malta, said he could not comment on the case before an investigation is carried out by the Medical Council.

However, he pointed out that doctors may only practice as specialists if they are registered in the medical council’s specialists list. Moreover, individual doctors may not advertise themselves.

“A clinic may advertise but the individual doctor working at the clinic may not. This is very clear. There are no specific rules governing Facebook but the rules that apply to the media apply to the social media,” Dr Balzan pointed out.

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