The Health Committee is one of three fitness to practice committees. It can suspend or impose conditions on a dental professional where there is a need to protect the public, the public interest or the registrant themselves.
The Health Committee considers cases, referred by the Investigating Committee, of dental professionals whose fitness to practise is affected by a physical or mental condition. It is made up of at least three fitness to practise committee members including at least 1 dental member and 1 lay member.
If the Committee decides that a dental professionals fitness to practise is seriously impaired, it can suspend the dentist for up to 12 months, or impose conditions on his or her registration for up to 36 months.
Health committee hearings will be held in public, in principle, with scope to exclude the public where it is necessary in order to acheive the right balance between the individual's rights to privacy, the need for public accountability, and registrant's right to a fair hearing.