Section 51

A Disciplinary Tribunal shall meet from time to time to inquire into any matter referred to it by the Medical Council and may regulate its own procedure.

A member of a Disciplinary Tribunal shall, notwithstanding that he has ceased to be a member of the Complaints Panel or panel referred to in section 50(1)(a) on the expiry of his term of office, continue to be a member of the Disciplinary Tribunal until such time as the Disciplinary Tribunal has completed its work.

The registered medical practitioner concerned may appear in person or be represented by counsel.

A Disciplinary Tribunal shall not be bound to act in a formal manner and shall not be bound by the provisions of the Evidence Act (Cap. 97) or by any other law relating to evidence but may inform itself on any matter in such manner as it thinks fit.

A Disciplinary Tribunal may, for the purposes of any proceedings before it, administer oaths and any party to the proceedings may take out a subpoena to testify or a subpoena to produce documents.

The subpoenas referred to in subsection (5) shall be served and may be enforced as if they were subpoenas issued in connection with a civil action in the High Court.

Any person giving evidence before a Disciplinary Tribunal shall be legally bound to tell the truth.

Witnesses shall have the same privileges and immunities in relation to hearings before a Disciplinary Tribunal as if such hearings were proceedings in a court of law.

A Disciplinary Tribunal shall carry out its work expeditiously and may apply to the Medical Council for an extension of time and for directions to be given to the Disciplinary Tribunal if the Disciplinary Tribunal fails to make its finding and order within 6 months from the date of its appointment.

When an application for extension of time has been made under subsection (9), the Medical Council may grant an extension of time for such period as it thinks fit.

In sections 172, 173, 174, 175, 177, 179, 182 and 228 of the Penal Code (Cap. 224), “public servant” shall be deemed to include a member of a Disciplinary Tribunal taking part in any investigation under this section, and in sections 193 and 228 of the Penal Code, “judicial proceeding” shall be deemed to include any such investigation.