Professional conduct and fitness to practise

The Code of Practice.
19
1
The General Council shall prepare and from time to time publish a Code of Practice—
a
laying down standards of conduct and practice expected of registered osteopaths; and
b
giving advice in relation to the practice of osteopathy.
2
It shall be the duty of the General Council to keep the Code under review and to vary its provisions whenever the Council considers it appropriate to do so.
3
Before issuing the Code or varying it, the General Council shall consult such representatives of practising osteopaths as it considers appropriate.
4
Where any person is alleged to have failed to comply with any provision of the Code, that failure—
a
shall not be taken, of itself, to constitute unacceptable professional conduct on his part; but
b
shall be taken into account in any proceedings against him under this Act.
5
Any person who asks the General Council for a copy of the Code shall be entitled to have one on payment of such reasonable fee as the Council may determine.
6
Subsection (5) is not to be taken as preventing the General Council from providing copies of the Code free of charge whenever it considers it appropriate.