23Power of Board to institute a hearing into professional conduct

23 Power of Board to institute a hearing into professional conduct

The Board may, of its own motion, determine to conduct a formal or informal hearing into the professional conduct of a person who is or was, at the time the conduct took place, a registered veterinary practitioner, without conducting a preliminary investigation.

S. 24 (Heading) inserted by No. 22/2022 s. 178(1).

24 Suspension of, or imposition of conditions on, registration on decision to conduct investigation or hearing into conduct of veterinary practitioner

S. 24(1) substituted by No. 22/2022 s. 178(2).

(1) This section applies if the Board has made a determination—

(a) to conduct a preliminary investigation into a complaint made to the Board about the professional conduct of a registered veterinary practitioner; or

(b) to conduct a formal or informal hearing into the professional conduct of a registered veterinary practitioner without a preliminary investigation.

S. 24(1A) inserted by No. 22/2022 s. 178(2).

(1A) The Board may—

(a) enter into a written agreement with the registered veterinary practitioner to impose a condition, limitation or restriction on the practitioner's registration until any investigation and any hearing into the matter is completed if the Board is of the opinion that to do so would not pose a serious risk to the health and safety of the public or endanger the health and welfare of animals; or

(b) suspend the registration of the registered veterinary practitioner until any investigation and any hearing into the matter is completed if the Board is of the opinion that it is necessary to do so because there is a serious risk that the health and safety of the public or the health and welfare of animals will be endangered.

S. 24(2) amended by No. 22/2022 s. 178(3).

(2) If the Board has suspended the registration of a veterinary practitioner under subsection (1A)(b), it must—

(a) immediately notify the veterinary practitioner of that suspension and the reasons for the suspension; and

(b) ensure that the matter is investigated as soon as possible after that suspension.

S. 24(3) inserted by No. 48/2016 s. 15, amended by No. 22/2022 s. 178(4).

(3) The Board, before any investigation or hearing into the matter is completed, must revoke the suspension of a veterinary practitioner's registration under subsection (1A)(b) if the Board is no longer of the opinion that it is necessary to suspend the registration because there is a serious risk that the health and safety of the public or the health and welfare of animals will be endangered.