Regulatory Matters
Psychiatric expert reports in fitness to practise and misconduct proceedings
Private instructions accepted
Psychiatric Reports for Regulatory Proceedings
I provide independent psychiatric reports for registrants and their legal representatives in fitness to practise, misconduct and health proceedings before professional regulators. Over 25 years I have reported in cases involving the GMC, NMC, GOsC, GCC, Social Work England and police forces.
Hearings
I work mainly with law firms that specialise in representing registrants. I am often asked for my view on whether health matters should be heard in private, or whether notices should be published. Publication can be very damaging to a registrant, because it means their medical history is aired in public.
There is real pressure on hearings to be transparent, but this sits in tension with the duty of care owed to the registrant. Publicity risks stigmatisation, and discrimination based on mental health. My reports set out the clinical considerations clearly, so that the panel can make an informed decision.
Misconduct
Professional misconduct and fitness to practise often go hand in hand. The expert’s role is to assess the registrant for evidence of mental illness, and to decide whether it may have affected their behaviour, judgment or capacity at the relevant time.
Experts can only advise the panel or tribunal; the final decision rests with them.
Fitness to Practise and Health
A registrant’s fitness to practise may be impaired because of their health, including mental illness, addiction or neurodevelopmental conditions. My reports address:
- the diagnosis, and its likely course
- whether the condition is currently controlled, and the insight shown into it
- the treatment needed, and the registrant’s engagement with it
- whether the registrant is fit to practise now, and with what conditions, restrictions or undertakings
- the risk of relapse, and what would help prevent it
Many health problems are treatable, and practitioners can and do return to safe practice. A clear, evidence-based report can help the panel find a proportionate outcome, such as conditions or undertakings, rather than suspension or erasure.
Students and Trainees
I also report in fitness to practise proceedings for medical, nursing and other healthcare students, where universities follow the Medical Schools Council and other professional guidance. Early, well-informed decisions at this stage can protect both the public and a student’s career.
ADHD, Trauma and Addiction
Undiagnosed adult ADHD, trauma (including complex PTSD), and alcohol or drug misuse are common factors in regulatory cases. They can lie behind lapses in performance, conduct or record-keeping that are otherwise hard to explain.
My reports explain the condition, its relevance to the concerns raised, and the treatment and support that would allow safe practice. Where relevant, they include the interpretation of CDT and hair strand test results.
How to Instruct Me
Call or email for a no-cost initial discussion about the case. I’ll need the letter of instruction, the regulator’s allegations or case papers, and consent to obtain medical records. Reports are typically completed within one week, and urgent reports for interim orders hearings are available. Assessments can take place at my consulting rooms in central London, or online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you act for registrants or for regulators?
I act for registrants and their legal representatives. My overriding duty is to the panel, and my opinion is independent.
Will my health information be made public?
Regulators’ rules usually allow health matters to be heard in private. My report can address why privacy is clinically important in your case.
Can I return to practice after a mental health problem?
Often, yes. Many registrants return to safe practice with treatment, sometimes with conditions or undertakings for a period.
Do you provide reports for interim orders hearings?
Yes. I can provide urgent reports for interim orders hearings, where decisions about restrictions on practice are made at short notice.
Links
UK Regulated Professions | GMC | GPhC | GDC | GOsC | GCC | NHS Employers | AHCS
Fitness to practise definitions: GDC | HCPC | GMC | Health and Social Care | NMC | Medical Schools Council | Social Work England | SWE Quick Guide | SRA
