Crossword Genius

Doctor consulted surgeon about individual (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sawbones

'doctor' is the definition.
(sawbones is a kind of doctor)

'consulted surgeon about individual' is the wordplay.
'consulted' becomes 'saw'.
'surgeon' becomes 'bs'.
'about' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'individual' becomes 'one'.
'bs' enclosing 'one' is 'bones'.
'saw'+'bones'='SAWBONES'

(Other definitions for sawbones that I've seen before include "Surgeon (joc.)" , "operator" , "Surgeon or doctor (slang)" , "A slang surgeon, sounds grating" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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