Functions required for the practice of medicine

The functions required of a practising doctor include:

• making safe judgments
• demonstrating the level of skill and knowledge required for safe practice
• behaving appropriately
• not risking infecting patients with whom the doctor comes into contact
• not acting in ways that impact adversely on patient safety.

Conditions affecting the ability to perform functions required to practise medicine

Conditions that may impair a doctor’s ability to perform those functions include:

• alcohol or drug abuse or dependence
• psychiatric disorders
• temporary stress reaction
• infection with a transmissible disease
• declining competence due to age related loss of motor skills or the early stages of dementia, and
• certain other illnesses and injuries.

Documents required

The doctor must attach to their application assessment and treatment information to inform Council about their fitness to practise.

If there has been involvement with another board or council, a summary of key reports and correspondence the board or council must be attached.

If the condition is a relapsing or progressive one, more detailed information needs to be provided.  This would include:

• copies of any independent assessments
• hospital or clinic discharge summaries
• reports from treating clinicians*

* Council's Health Committee does not expect to intrude into the therapeutic relationships a doctor has with treating clinicians.  For that reason, it only expects to receive a report with a level of comment that the doctor concerned and the clinician agree is appropriate.

Processing an application with a disclosure

Information provided is forwarded to Council’s Health Committee to advise on the doctor’s fitness for registration.

Depending on the circumstances, the Health Committee may request an independent assessment.  This could apply if the condition is ongoing, a remitting or relapsing one, treatment recent, if the doctor has not been well engaged in treatment with a relapse management plan, or if the doctor is facing significant change.