Medical Student Fitness to Practise Hearings at Universities
Medical Student Disciplinary Processes at University Level
Medical students can face university level disciplinary hearings that could bring their studies and their desire to become doctors to an end. Our lawyers advise and represent medical students in such disciplinary hearings and investigations.
Some cases are sufficiently serious to justify the attendance of lawyers, even where the university policy says the contrary. The case law is clear on this point, as set out below.
In AB v The University of XYZ (Rev 1) [2020] EWHC 2978 (QB) the High Court held that the principles of natural justice may require universities to permit students to be represented by a lawyer. (November 2020)
Most universities that train doctors have a three possible fitness to practise processes, which a medical student might be called to attend.
In each of them, medical students will need to look at the allegations brought by the university, and identify evidence that will be of assistance to them, to (a) support the medical student’s version of events, and (b) undermine the case against them – so that the facts (of what has or has not taken place) can be established. Medical students will also need to submit evidence of remediation and insight, showing that the risk of repetition is negligible.
The University policies and procedures will explain how the process works. Universities must provide a fair process for adjudicating on concerns. Appeals may be possible where decision-makers have fallen into error or come to a disproportionate decision on sanction.
Other Pages:
Student Physician Associate Fitness to Practise Processes
For more information about medical student representation, give Doctors Defence Service a call without obligation on 0800 10 88 739