Latest News within Professional Disciplinary and Regulatory

Administrative court allows Claimant Dr’s appeal

Challenge to no case to answer decision

Application for appeal against decision of Nursing and Midwifery Council

Case: [2013] All ER (D) 84 (Jun) 10th May 2013

Consequences of failing to disclose a caution- often it isn’t the criminal record that’s the problem but failing to disclose it. This was a case involving a solicitor but the same principles apply to most other professional bodies.

The issue of sexual harassment in the workplace has come to the fore in recent weeks as the Liberal Democrat party has been rocked by allegations concerning its former President Lord Rennard. Trevor Hughes, comments: “Without commenting on the particular story in any way, it is clear that sexual harassment in the workplace is totally unacceptable. Understanding what constitutes sexual harassment may not be easy to determine.”

Mattu v University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire

R (on the application of Kuteh) v Upper Tribunal Administrative Appeals Chamber and another [2012] All ER (D) 58 (Jun)

How to avoid the pitfalls of social media

Doctors, nurses, medical students and other healthcare professionals are all in contact with personal and sensitive information about patients whether in the course of their work or training.

Law Society Chief Executive Desmond Hudson, commented in the Law Society Gazette ( November 3rd 2011) on the successful case brought by London law firm, Webster Dixon against three legal expense insurers.

The ruling stated that an insurer cannot reject a policyholder’s freedom of choice of solicitor, purely because that firm charges a higher rate than a Panel firm.

News update- Pharmacy's regulator, the General Pharmaceutical Council, has confirmed its plans to introduce extra fitness-to-practise checks on pharmacists and has started work to develop models for revalidation.

Case: R (on application of X) v GMC [2011] EWHC 3271 (Admin)

The claimant, who suffered from mental health issues, applied for judicial review of a decision to hear his application for voluntary erasure in public.

The general rule is that in dealing with an internal disciplinary meeting/ hearing a person is usually only entitled to be accompanied by a friend/ relative, work colleague or a trade union representative.

Recent important cases have qualified this where the employee is a member of a regulated profession, such as a doctor or a teacher where the potential outcome includes dismissal.

Important changes for Summer 2012

General Optical Council issues press release that it is recognised as meeting good standards of regulation.