Urgent Cases

Section 150 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW) states that the Council must, if at any time it is appropriate to do so for the protection of the health and safety of any person or persons or if it is otherwise in the public interest to do so, either suspend a medical practitioner or impose conditions upon their registration.

In such circumstances, the Council conducts proceedings as soon as it is practicable. These proceedings enable the Council to take interim action, where the Board acts rapidly and with minimum formality to suspend or place conditions on a practitioner where it is appropriate for the protection of the health or safety of any person or it is otherwise in the public interest. This is done in anticipation of an early investigation and finalisation of the matter in a more structured setting.

The Council has exercised this power in a variety of circumstances, including but not limited to circumstances where practitioners:

  • have been charged with serious criminal matters (whether arising within or outside the practice of medicine)
  • suffer from a serious impairment and demonstrate little or no insight into the extent of their problem
  • have continued to recklessly prescribe narcotics in a manner which is dangerous and likely to cause harm, despite previous warnings or counselling
  • breach conditions on their registration.

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