After a complaint has been referred by the Director of Proceedings to a disciplinary hearing, the Council makes the administrative arrangements necessary to organise the hearing. The Professional Conduct Section will then implement the decisions of the disciplinary hearing and ensure that the practitioner complies with the orders of the Committee or Tribunal. Disciplinary hearings do not have the power to award financial compensation to the complainant.
Professional Standards Committees
Complaints which may lead to a finding of unsatisfactory professional conduct are normally referred to a Professional Standards Committee (PSC). A PSC takes an investigative approach rather than a strict adversarial format. Unlike Courts, a PSC is not bound to observe the strict rules governing the admissibility of evidence and can inform itself of any matter in such manner as it deems appropriate. However, a PSC must be conducted in accordance with the principles of natural justice. The HCCC prosecutes the complaint before a PSC and the parties are entitled to be accompanied by an Australian Legal Practitioner or other adviser and should feel free to seek the assistance of their adviser at any time. Another adviser may represent the practitioner.
A PSC is legally separate from and independent to the Medical Council. A PSC comprises a legal practitioner, two medical practitioners and one lay, or non-medical, member. PSCs constituted from 1 October 2008 are conducted in public unless the Committee determines otherwise. PSCs constituted before this date were required to conduct hearings in private.
A PSC does not have the power to suspend a practitioner or remove a practitioner's name from the Register. Should a PSC reach the opinion that the matter is one which could warrant suspension or deregistration, it must terminate the hearing forthwith and refer the matter to the Medical Tribunal for a complete re-hearing.
When a PSC has made a finding that the complaint has been substantiated, the members must then decide what orders/sanctions, if any, are to be made to protect the public. A PSC is empowered to exercise the following powers pursuant to section 146A of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW) and a PSC may use one or a combination of these powers:
The Medical Tribunal
The primary role of the Medical Tribunal is to adjudicate on allegations of professional misconduct which, if proven, could warrant suspension or de-registration, and as an appeal body on decisions made by the Medical Council. The Tribunal is legally separate from and independent of the Council. Each specially constituted Tribunal consists of four members. The Chairperson of the Tribunal is appointed by the Governor and must be a judge of the District Court. After the Chairperson advises the Council of the appointment of himself or a Deputy Chairperson to deal with a matter, the dates set for the hearing and estimated length of hearing, the Council appoints the other three members. The three Tribunal members appointed by the Council comprise one lay person appointed from a panel nominated by the Minister of Health and two registered medical practitioners.
The Tribunal may dismiss a complaint, application or appeal or make any finding or exercise any power or combination of powers available to the Tribunal. When the Tribunal makes a finding that a doctor is guilty of professional misconduct and/or unsatisfactory professional conduct, it may exercise any of the powers available to a PSC or it may suspend or de-register a practitioner.
Only the Tribunal has the power to suspend or de-register a medical practitioner if it is satisfied: the medical practitioner is not competent to practise medicine; is guilty of professional misconduct; has been convicted of an offence (either in or outside New South Wales) and the circumstances of the offence render the person unfit in the public interest to practise medicine; or is not of good character.
Displinary Hearing Resources
Medical Tribunal Rules (Repealed) - forms
