Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2022)

111.   Suspension or revocation of practicing certificate or licence

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    (1)   The relevant Council may suspend the practicing certificate or the licence of a health practitioner for a period that the relevant Council in the circumstances considers appropriate or revoke the practicing certificate or the licence of the heath practitioner if—

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      (a)     the health practitioner contravenes a condition subject to which he or she is registered;

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      (b)     the health practitioner fails to pay within the time specified, a fine imposed under section 109;

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      (c)     the health practitioner fails to honour an undertaking given by the relevant Council;

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      (d)     the health practitioner contravenes a code of ethics relevant to his or her category of health care;

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      (e)     the relevant Council reasonably considers that suspension is necessary for the purposes of inquiring into a complaint made against the health practitioner or inquiring into a matter that could be the subject of a complaint against the health practitioner; or

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      (f)     the relevant Council considers that it is in the public interest to suspend or revoke the practicing certificate or the licence of the health practitioner.

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    (2)   If the relevant Council decides to suspend or revoke the practicing certificate or the licence of a health practitioner, it shall except in the case of subsection (1)(c), where only notice of such suspension under paragraph (c) is required—

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      (a)     give the health practitioner an opportunity to be heard; and

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      (b)     make an appropriate note of the suspension or revocation and the reasons for the suspension or revocation in the register kept by the relevant Council; and

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      (c)     give the health practitioner notice in writing of—

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        (i)     the suspension or revocation and the reasons for the suspension, and

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        (ii)     his or her right of appeal.

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    (3)   A notice under subsection (2)(c) shall be served personally on or sent by post to the health practitioner.

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    (4)   A health practitioner whose practicing certificate or licence is suspended or revoked by the relevant Council shall—

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      (a)     in the case of a suspension, cease to be entitled to practice for the period specified by the relevant Council or until the suspension is revoked under section 112 or Part 6; or

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      (b)     in the ease of a revocation, cease to be entitled to practice.

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    (5)   A health practitioner whose practicing certificate or licence is suspended or revoked under subsection (1) shall, if directed in writing to do so by the relevant Council, return the practicing certificate or the licence to the relevant Council—

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      (a)     within 7 days after receiving the direction; or

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      (b)     within any longer period that the relevant Council allows and specifies in the direction.