General Dental Council
| Website | http://www.gdc-uk.org |
| Tribunal rules |
Dentists Act 1984 (as amended) Order
2005 The General Dental Council (Fitness to Practise) Rules Order of Council 2006 (SI 1663) |
| Code of Standards, etc | Standards for Dental Professionals |
| Grounds for disciplinary proceedings |
Impaired fitness to practise Conviction or caution for a criminal offence |
| Powers of administrative suspension? | Yes, PCC, Professional Performance Committee and the Health Committee can impose an order for interim suspension or alternatively they may refer the matter to the Interim Orders Committee, as may the Registrar and the Investigating Committee.. |
| Settlement/conciliation procedures available? | No. Fitness to Practise caseworkers determine referral to the Investigating Committee which in turn determines referral to relevant Committee. |
| Who investigates? | Fitness to Practise caseworkers determine referral to the Investigating Committee. |
| Power of entry/search and seizure? | No |
| Power to demand information? | The Dentists Act (1984) Amendment Order allows the Council to seek a court order requiring information to be supplied and/or for the Committee to grant a warrant to summon any person to attend before it as a witness to give evidence or produce documents (or for the recovery of documents). |
| Pre-trial hearing? | Yes. Option for preliminary meetings to determine directions for full hearing and the Interim Orders Committee may consider suspension or conditions upon practise before a full hearing. |
| Discovery of documents? | Rules for service of ‘documentary material’ in Fitness to Practise Rules (see also Power to demand information above) |
| Pleadings? | No formal pleadings |
| Tribunal | One of three practicse committees: Professional Conduct Committee, Professional Performance Committee and Health Committee. |
| Address |
The Registrar General Dental Council 37 Wimpole Street London W1G 8DQ |
| Legally qualified chairman? | No |
| Tribunal includes lay element? | Yes |
| Tribunal has legal assessor/clerk? | Yes |
| Evidence heard on oath? | Yes |
| Prosecution conducted in name of | General Dental Council |
| Prosecution usually conducted by | Solicitor or barrister either internal or external. |
| Judicial rules of evidence apply? | The General Dental Council (Fitness to Practise) Rules Order of Council 2006 (SI 1663) |
| Standard of proof | Civil |
| Maximum fine | No power to fine |
| Costs against prosecutor? | No |
| Power to order compensation? | No power to order compensation |
| Proceedings open to public? | Yes |
| Reasons given for decisions? | Reasons routinely given in accordance with relevant guidance. |
| Where are decisions reported? | Reports are published in the public minutes of the GDC website and GDC Gazette |
| Alternative to full disciplinary proceedings? | No |
| Ombudsman | No |
| Appellate tribunal | Administrative Division of the High Court |
| Is right of appeal limited? | To matters of law |
| Costs against prosecutor? | Yes |
| Right of appeal to prosecutor? | No |
Categories: Examples of disciplinary codes