S.L. 464.20 Art. 12Application of the relevant Council and reply of the health care professional.      Cap. 12.

(1) The health care professional shall be served with the application referred to in regulation 11 together with all accompanying documents and evidence enclosed thereto, together with Form A of the Schedule.

(2) The health care professional shall have thirty (30) days from the date of service of the application and the other documents indicated in sub-regulation (1) to file a written reply.

(3) The health care professional shall together with the reply submit to the Disciplinary Committee:

(a) all supporting documents relevant to the hearing of the case and which are in his possession;

(b) a list of witnesses to be produced before the Disciplinary Committee, provided that any person assisting the health care professional concerned may not be called as a witness in the same disciplinary proceedings; and

(c) any other matter that he deems relevant to the hearing of the case.

(4) As soon as possible and after receipt of the reply in accordance with sub-regulation (2) together with additional information and documents in accordance with sub-regulation (3), the written proceedings shall be deemed closed and the Disciplinary Committee shall serve the reply together with the additional information and documents on the relevant Council and issue a notice of hearing to take place on a date and time to be established by the Disciplinary Committee, which notice shall be served on the parties.

(5) The Disciplinary Committee shall consider and have due regard to applicable and relevant laws, the Code of Ethics, rules, regulations and guidelines, in particular those governing the health care profession, existing at the time when the alleged facts giving rise to the complaint occurred.

(6) Subject to any limitations imposed by the Act or these regulations, the Disciplinary Committee shall have all the powers to enable it to perform its functions adequately, including the power to summon witnesses in accordance with article 568 of the Code of

Organization and Civil Procedure, to appoint experts in accordance with article 563A of the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure, to administer oaths in accordance with article 577(3) of the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure and to issue interlocutory decrees in accordance with article 221 of the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure and for these purposes it shall have the powers which are conferred by law on the First Hall of the Civil Court.