Singapore legislation
Section 20
Section 20
Power of Board to cancel registration, etc.
(1)
Any complaint concerning the conduct of a registered person in his or her professional capacity must be made to the Board in such form and manner as the Board may require.
(2)
Where the Board receives any complaint against a registered person under subsection (1) or otherwise comes to know of any information concerning the conduct of a registered person in his or her professional capacity, the Board must notify the registered person of the complaint or information and give that registered person an opportunity to be heard either in person or by counsel.
(3)
The Board may cancel the registration of a registered person if the Board is satisfied that the registered person —
has obtained his or her registration by a fraudulent or an incorrect statement;
has had any of his or her qualifications by virtue of which he or she was registered withdrawn or cancelled by the authority through which it was acquired or by which it was awarded;
has had his or her registration in any other country for the practice of optometry or opticianry withdrawn, suspended or cancelled;
has ceased to carry on the practice of optometry or opticianry for which he or she is registered;
has failed to comply with any condition to which his or her registration is subject;
has contravened any regulation made under this Act relating to the practice and conduct of optometrists or opticians that applies to him or her;
has been convicted of an offence in Singapore or elsewhere involving fraud or dishonesty;
has been convicted of an offence in Singapore or elsewhere implying a defect in character which renders him or her unfit to remain on the Register of Optometrists or the Register of Opticians;
has been guilty of any professional misconduct or negligence;
has been guilty of any improper act or conduct in his or her practice as an optometrist or optician which renders him or her unfit to remain on the Register of Optometrists or the Register of Opticians;
is unable to carry out the practice of optometry or opticianry for which he or she is registered safely or effectively by reason of any mental or physical disability; or
has failed to pay any penalty imposed on him or her under subsection (4)(b).
(4)
Where a registered person is liable to have his or her registration cancelled on any ground mentioned in subsection (3)(e) to (l), the Board may, instead of cancelling the registration, take one or more of the following measures:
censure the registered person;
impose on the registered person a penalty not exceeding $10,000;
order that the registered person’s registration be subject to such conditions as the Board may impose for a period not exceeding 3 years;
suspend the registered person’s registration for a period not exceeding 3 years.
(5)
Where the Board determines that there are no merits in any complaint or information received by it concerning any registered person, it may dismiss the complaint or information.
(6)
Every penalty imposed under subsection (4)(b) is recoverable as a debt due to the Government.
(7)
Despite any appeal under section 22 that is pending, the decision of the Board to cancel or suspend the registration of a registered person, or to impose any penalty on the registered person under subsection (4)(b), takes effect on the date the decision has been communicated to him or her, unless the Board or the General Division of the High Court otherwise directs.
(8)
While the registration of a registered person for the carrying out of a practice of optometry or opticianry remains suspended, he or she is not regarded as a registered person in respect of that practice of optometry or opticianry for the purposes of this Act, but on the expiry of the registered person’s suspension, his or her rights and privileges under this Act are revived.
(9)
Where a person is registered in respect of 2 or more practices of optometry or opticianry, the Board may take action under this section in relation to his or her registrations for both or all of those practices of optometry or opticianry without having to institute separate proceedings.