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GDC Fitness to Practise: Investigation
Investigation: stage 1
A caseworker considers the complaints report against a dental professional. No decision is made at this stage about whether an allegation is true. The question asked is, "Does this information appear to raise a question that needs to be looked into?" If affirmative and the case can be dealt with by the GDC, it will be passed on to the Investigating Committee. If the GDC cannot deal with the case, the complainant will be referred to a suitable organisation.
The Investigating Committee (IC): stage 2
The Investigating Committee (IC) then considers the allegation and looks at all the material gathered to date and either:
- takes no further action; or
- issues a letter of advice; or
- issues a warning; or
- refers the allegation to a Practice Committee for a full public enquiry.
The Practice Committees are:
- Professional Conduct Committee (PCC)
- Professional Performance Committee (PPC)
- Health Committee (HC)
If the IC decides there should be an inquiry they can, if necessary, refer the dental professional to the Interim Orders Committee (IOC) to consider whether to impose conditions or in the interim suspend a registrant pending a full inquiry. The suspension may be renewed or revoked at a subsequent meeting. At this stage it is important to note that the allegations have not been tested or proved. |
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