Disciplinary measures
The inspectorate can bring any individual medical practitioner before the appropriate disciplinary council, provided there has been serious misconduct on the part of the practitioner and there is a high likelihood of repeat offending.
The inspectorate institutes disciplinary proceedings further to the Individual Medical Professions Act (BIG), which lists eight 'restricted' medical professions. Anyone wishing to practise one of these professions must be registered in the so-called ‘BIG-register’. Only these professions are subject to disciplinary proceedings before a Disciplinary Council.
The restricted professions are
- Doctor
- Dentist
- Pharmacist
- Health Care Psychologist
- Psychotherapist
- Physiotherapist
- Obstetrician / Midwife
- Nurse
Pursuant to the Individual Medical Professions Act, the sanctions available to the Disciplinary Council are
- A formal warning
- Admonition
- A fine of up to € 4,500
- Suspension of registration for up to one year
- Partial revocation of entitlement to practise
- Permanent removal from the register
Disciplinary proceedings occupy an intermediate position between administrative sanctions and criminal proceedings and are primarily intended as a means of allowing practitioners to learn from their mistakes. The rulings of a Disciplinary Council have an instructive, corrective and sometimes punitive effect.
Disciplinary proceedings occupy an intermediate position between administrative sanctions and criminal proceedings and are primarily intended as a means of allowing practitioners to learn from their mistakes. The rulings of a Disciplinary Council have an instructive, corrective and sometimes punitive effect.