The General Osteopathic Council (Investigation of Complaints) (Procedure) Rules Order of Council 1999

PART I Preliminary

The General Osteopathic Council in exercise of its powers under sections 20(4) and (10) and 28(3) of, and paragraph 21 of the Schedule to, the Osteopaths Act 1993 hereby make the following Rules:

Citation and commencement

1.  These Rules may be cited as the General Osteopathic Council Investigation of Complaints (Procedure) Rules 1999, and shall come into force on 5th July 1999.

Interpretation

2.  In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires:

“the Act” means the Osteopaths Act 1993;

“case relating to conduct or incompetence” means a case where a question arises as to whether the osteopath may have been guilty of unacceptable professional conduct or professional incompetence under section 20 of the Act;

“case relating to conviction” means a case where it is alleged that an osteopath has been convicted in the United Kingdom, whether while registered or not, of a criminal offence;

“case relating to health” means a case where a question arises as to whether the ability to practise of the osteopath is seriously impaired because of his physical or mental condition;

“the Chairman” means the Chairman of the Investigating Committee;

“the Committee” means the Investigating Committee established by section 1(5)(b) of the Act;

“acomplaint” means any allegation of any kind mentioned in section 20(1) of the Act;

“complainant” means a person by whom a complaint has been made to the Council;

“the Council” means the General Osteopathic Council or a Committee of the Council acting under delegated power;

“the Health Committee” means the Committee established by section 1(5)(d) of the Act;

“legal assessor” means an assessor appointed by the Council pursuant to section 27 of the Act;

“medical assessor” means an assessor appointed by the General Council pursuant to section 28 of the Act;

“osteopath” means a registered osteopath against whom a complaint has been made and includes a person whose registration is currently suspended;

“the Professional Conduct Committee” means the Committee established by section 1(5)(c) of the Act;

“the Screener” means a person appointed pursuant to rule 3(1) of these Rules to give preliminary consideration to complaints;

“the Solicitor” means any Solicitor appointed by the Council and includes Counsel representing the Solicitor.