Fitness to Practise Committee

The Fitness to Practise Committee hears and determines matters related to the alleged incapacity of members. The parties to a hearing are the College and the member alleged to be incapacitated.

It is the responsibility of the Fitness to Practise Committee to determine if the member is suffering from a physical or mental condition or disorder such that they are unfit to carry out their professional responsibilities or that their certificate should be made subject to terms, conditions or limitations. If a member is found to be incapacitated, the panel may, among other things:

• direct the Registrar to revoke a member's certificate
• direct the Registrar to suspend a member's certificate for up to 24 months
• direct the Registrar to impose specific terms, conditions or limitations on a member's certificate
• fix a period during which a member is ineligible for reinstatement

Closed Hearings

Fitness to Practise Committee hearings are generally closed to the public. The hearing may be open if the member alleged to be incapacitated makes a request in writing to the Registrar for a public hearing before the start of the hearing. The Committee may refuse the request under certain circumstances.

Resources

• Rules of Procedure of the Discipline Committee and of the Fitness to Practise Committee.
• Tribunals Book of Authorities.
• Practice Direction for Electronic Proceedings.