The Investigating Committee
The Investigating Committee (IC), a statutory committee of the Council, considers allegations of impaired fitness to practise and determines whether such allegations should be referred to a practice committee for a full inquiry.
The practice committees are:
The IC has a number of sanctions available to it. These are:
- to close the case and take no further action
- to adjourn the case for further information
- to issue a letter of advice to the registrant
- to issue a warning letter to the registrant
- to issue a warning letter to the registrant and direct that the letter
- should be published on the GDC website
- refer the case to one of the three practice committees for a full inquiry
The IC may also issue a letter of advice to a third party.
When the IC decides there should be an inquiry, they can, if necessary, refer the allegations to the
Interim Orders Committee for it to consider whether imposition of an interim order is necessary pending the outcome of a full inquiry of a practice committee.
The IC meets in private and is constituted of up to five experienced and trained members who are drawn from an independently appointed pool of
23 members (
both lay and registrant).
It is usual practice for the committee to sit with five members. However, the quorum of the IC is three, of which there shall be at least one registered member, one lay member and in any case concerning a person’s registration in the DCP register, one DCP member.
The procedure of the Investigating Committee are the General Dental Council (Fitness to Practice) Rules Order of Council 2006.
Investigating Committee guidance
In exercising its function the Investigating Committee will refer to its guidance manual. This document is a ‘living document’ and will be subject to review. If you have any questions about the Investigating Committee or comments regarding the guidance please contact icmanagers@gdc-uk.org
Investigating Committee guidance (500KB, PDF)