Singapore legislation
Regulation 11
of Allied Health Professions (Professional Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 2013
Regulation 11
Conduct of inquiry
Subregulation 1
At the inquiry, the case against the registered allied health professional may be presented by the Council’s solicitor.
Subregulation 2
The registered allied health professional may appear in person or be represented by counsel.
Subregulation 3
Where neither the registered allied health professional nor his or her counsel is present, the Disciplinary Tribunal may proceed with the inquiry if it is satisfied that regulation 4 has been complied with.
Subregulation 4
The Disciplinary Tribunal must adopt the following procedure for holding its inquiry, but may make any variations or modifications that it thinks fit in any particular case:
the charge or charges must first be read out to the registered allied health professional;
the registered allied health professional or his or her counsel may object to any charge on a point of law, and if any such objection is upheld, no further proceedings are to be taken on the charge to which the objection relates;
the Council’s solicitor must present the facts on which the complaint is based, and adduce evidence of the facts alleged in the charge or charges;
the registered allied health professional or his or her counsel may adduce evidence to substantiate the registered allied health professional’s defence;
both the Council’s solicitor and the registered allied health professional or his or her counsel may cross‑examine witnesses of the other party after the evidence‑in‑chief has been completed, and each party may re‑examine their witnesses after the cross‑examination;
at the close of his or her case, the registered allied health professional or his or her counsel may address the Disciplinary Tribunal;
the Council’s solicitor must make his or her closing address.
Subregulation 5
Where at any point in the proceedings the Disciplinary Tribunal determines that the evidence brought forward is insufficient or there is no evidence to substantiate any charge or all of the charges, the Disciplinary Tribunal must discontinue further proceedings on the charge or charges.
Subregulation 6
If the Disciplinary Tribunal is satisfied that the registered allied health professional or his or her counsel is hampering or attempting to hamper the progress of the inquiry, the chairperson of the Disciplinary Tribunal must administer a warning to the registered allied health professional and, where appropriate, his or her counsel.
Subregulation 7
If after such warning the Disciplinary Tribunal is satisfied that the warning is being disregarded, the Disciplinary Tribunal must make a written note of this and must proceed with and complete the inquiry in any manner which it thinks fit.
Subregulation 8
The inquiry by the Disciplinary Tribunal must be held in private.