Professional discipline – what practitioners need to know

Professional discipline – the investigation and disciplining of a professional by a regulator for falling short of the standards required or for breaching standards – can be a stressful time for healthcare professionals. Behaviour ranging from health to performance or clinical concerns, amongst others, can lead to individuals being contacted by the regulator’s Fitness to Practise Directorate.

Examples of conduct which raises concern include cautions or convictions, inappropriate actions towards colleagues or patients and criminal proceedings. These can all lead to professional discipline meetings. Likewise, inappropriate content on social media can be a cause for concern – meaning both professional and personal lives are looked into by the regulators.

Sanctions available to regulators include reprimands, imposing conditions on professionals, suspension of up to 12 months and striking off, or erasure, orders. All of these can have an impact on the individual concerned, their career and their livelihood.

In this video Healthcare Regulatory Partner Laura Shelton speaks to Associate Nicola Wheater about what professional discipline means, what it can look like, and the importance of taking advice early.