The General Optical Council (Fitness to Practise Rules) Order of Council 2005

Hearings in public

23.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (5) below, hearings before the Fitness to Practise Committee shall be held in public.

(2) The Fitness to Practise Committee may determine that the public shall be excluded from the proceedings, or any part of the proceedings, where the Committee consider that such exclusion would be appropriate, having regard to—

(a) the interests of the maker of an allegation (if one has been made);

(b) the interests of any patient or witness concerned;

(c) the interests of the registrant; and

(d) all the circumstances, including the public interest.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), the Fitness to Practise Committee shall sit in private where they are considering the physical or mental health of the registrant.

(4) Where the Fitness to Practise Committee are considering matters referred to in paragraph (3), they may meet in public where they consider that it would be appropriate to do so, having regard to the matters set out in paragraph (2)(a) to (d).

(5) The Fitness to Practise Committee may at any time deliberate in the absence of the parties, their representatives and the public.