28Notice of action taken or decision made following assessment

28 Notice of action taken or decision made following assessment

28 Notice of action taken or decision made following assessment

(1) The Commission must give the parties to the complaint notice in writing of the action taken or decision made by the Commission following its assessment of the complaint. The notice is to be given within 14 days after the Commission takes that action or makes that decision.

(2) If the Commission decides to investigate a complaint against a health practitioner, the Commission must give notice in writing of the decision—

(a) if the health practitioner has provided the health service in respect of which the complaint is made under a contract or agreement with a person who is, or who conducts, a hospital or other health care facility, to the person, or

(b) if the health practitioner has provided the health service in the capacity of an employee, to the health practitioner’s employer.

(3) If the Commission decides to investigate a complaint against a health practitioner, the Commission may give notice in writing of the decision to a person who currently employs or engages the health practitioner as a health practitioner.

(4) This section does not require the Commission to give notice of action taken or a decision made to investigate a complaint if it appears to the Commission, on reasonable grounds, that the giving of the notice will—

(a) prejudice the investigation of the complaint, or

(b) place the health or safety of a client at risk, or

(c) place the complainant or another person at risk of intimidation or harassment, or

(d) unreasonably prejudice the employment of the health practitioner in the case of a health practitioner who has provided the health service in the capacity of an employee.

(5) Despite subsection (4), the Commission must give the notice if the Commission considers on reasonable grounds that—

(a) it is essential, having regard to the principles of natural justice, that the notice be given, or

(b) the giving of the notice is necessary to investigate the matter effectively or it is otherwise in the public interest to do so.

(6) If the Commission decides that subsection (4) applies to a complaint but that some form of notice could be given of the complaint without affecting the health or safety of a client or putting any person at risk of intimidation or harassment, the Commission may give such a form of notice.