New South Wales Consolidated Acts

MEDICAL PRACTICE ACT 1992 - SECT 66C

66C Special provisions-impairment

(1) This section applies if the Board takes action against a registered medical practitioner under section 66 because the Board is of the opinion that the practitioner suffers from an impairment.

(2) The Board must, as soon as practicable after taking that action and, in any event, within 7 days after taking that action, notify the Commission that it has taken that action.

(3) The Board is to consult with the Commission to see if agreement can be reached as to whether the matter should be:

(a) dealt with as a complaint against the practitioner, or

(b) referred to an Impaired Registrants Panel.

(4) The matter is to be dealt with as a complaint against the practitioner only if, following that consultation:

(a) the Board and the Commission agree that it should be dealt with as a complaint, or

(b) either the Board or the Commission is of the opinion that the matter should be dealt with as a complaint.

(5) In such a case, the Board is to refer the matter to the Commission and the matter is to be dealt with by the Commission as a complaint made to the Commission against the practitioner concerned.

(6) The Commission is to investigate the complaint or cause it to be investigated and, as soon as practicable after it has completed its investigation, refer the complaint to the Tribunal or a Committee.

(7) Section 52 (Serious complaints must be referred to Tribunal) applies in respect of any such action by the Commission.

(8) If subsection (4) does not apply, the Board is to refer the matter to an Impaired Registrants Panel.

(9) A matter may be referred to an Impaired Registrants Panel under this section even though the medical practitioner has been suspended under section 66. Part 5 applies in respect of such a referral as if the medical practitioner were a registered medical practitioner.