1.—(1) For section 44C M1 of the Medical Act 1983 M2 (indemnity arrangements) substitute—U.K.
(1) A person who holds a licence to practise as a medical practitioner, and practises as such, must have in force in relation to him an indemnity arrangement which provides appropriate cover for practising as such.
(2) For the purposes of this section, an “indemnity arrangement” may comprise—
(a)a policy of insurance;
(b)an arrangement for the purposes of indemnifying a person;
(c)a combination of the two.
(3) For the purposes of this section, “appropriate cover”, in relation to practice as a medical practitioner, means cover against liabilities that may be incurred in practising as such which is appropriate, having regard to the nature and extent of the risks of practising as such.
(4) The General Council may make regulations in connection with the information to be provided to the Registrar—
(a)by or in respect of a person seeking a licence to practise for the purpose of determining whether, if he is granted such a licence, there will be in force in relation to him by the time he begins to practise an indemnity arrangement which provides appropriate cover; and
(b)by or in respect of a person who holds a licence to practise for the purpose of determining whether there is in force in relation to him an indemnity arrangement which provides appropriate cover.
(5) Regulations made under subsection (4)(b) may require the information mentioned there to be provided—
(a)at the request of the Registrar; or
(b)on such dates or at such intervals as the Registrar may determine, either generally or in relation to individual practitioners or practitioners of a particular description.
(6) The General Council may also make regulations requiring a person who holds a licence to practise to inform the Registrar if there ceases to be in force in relation to him an indemnity arrangement which provides appropriate cover.
(7) The General Council may also make regulations requiring a person who holds a licence to practise to inform the Registrar if there is in force in relation to him appropriate cover provided under an indemnity arrangement by an employer.
(8) A licensing authority may refuse to grant a licence to practise to any person who fails to comply, or in respect of whom there is a failure to comply, with regulations made under subsection (4)(a).
(9) Where a person who holds a licence to practise is in breach of subsection (1) or there is a failure to comply with regulations made under subsection (4)(b) in relation to him—
(a)a licensing authority may withdraw that person's licence to practise; or
(b)the breach or failure may be treated as misconduct for the purposes of section 35C(2)(a) M3, and the Registrar may accordingly refer the matter to the Investigation Committee under section 35C(4).
(10) Regulations made under subsection (4), (6) or (7) shall not have effect until approved by the Privy Council.
(11) This section does not apply to a person who holds a licence to practise as a result of registration under Schedule 2A M4 (visiting medical practitioners from relevant European States).”.
(2) In section 29F(1A) M5 (appeals), in paragraph (a), for “section 44C(7)” substitute “ section 44C(8) ” and in paragraph (b), for “section 44C(8)(a)” substitute “ section 44C(9)(a) ”.
Marginal Citations
M1Section 44C was inserted by S.I. 2006/1914.
M3Section 35C was substituted by S.I. 2002/3135.
M4Inserted by S.I. 2007/3101.
M5Inserted by S.I. 2006/1914.