Medical Act 1983

55 Interpretation

In this Act—

• " acceptable overseas qualification " has the meaning given by section 22(4) above ;

• " additional qualification " has the meaning given by section 16(2) above;

• "appointed member" means a member of the General Council chosen by a university or other body designated as an appointing body by an Order in Council under section 1 above;

• " appointing body" means a university or other body having, by virtue of an Order in Council under section 1 above, power to choose an appointed member or members of the General Council;

• " disqualifying decision " has the meaning given by section 44(2) above;

• " elected member " means a member of the General Council elected under paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to this Act;

• " the first Medical Directive " has the meaning given by section 17(4) above;

• " fully registered person" means a person for the time being registered under section 3, 19 or 27 above as a fully registered medical practitioner, or under section 18 above as a visiting EEC practitioner, and—

  (a)

  so far as mentioned in subsection (3) of section 15 or 21 above, but not further, includes a person for the time being provisionally registered ;

  (b)

  in relation to such employment and such things as are mentioned in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of subsection (7) of section 22 above, but not in relation to other matters, includes a person for the time being registered under that section with limited registration; and " fully registered " shall be construed accordingly;

• "the General Council" means the General Medical Council;

• "limited registration" has the meaning given by section 22(2) above;

• " national", in relation to a member State of the Communities, has the same meaning as in the Community Treaties, but does not include a person who by virtue of Article 2 of Protocol No. 3 (Channel Islands and Isle of Man) to the Treaty of Accession is not to benefit from Community provisions relating to the free movement of persons and services;

• " the necessary knowledge of English ", in relation to an applicant for registration under this Act, means the knowledge which, in the interests of himself and his patients, is necessary for the practice of medicine in the United Kingdom;

• " nominated member" means a member of the General Council nominated by Her Majesty under paragraph 4 of Schedule 1 to this Act;

• " the permitted period ", in relation to limited registration, has the meaning given by section 22(3) above;

• "the prescribed knowledge and skill" has the meaning given by section 5(4) above;

• " a prescribed pattern of experience" has the meaning given by section 5(4) above ;

• " the prescribed standard of proficiency " has the meaning given by section 5(4) above;

• " primary European qualification " shall be construed in accordance with section 17 above;

• " primary United Kingdom qualification " has the meaning given by section 4(3) above; " provisionally registered " means provisionally registered under section 15 or 21 above ;

• " qualification", except where the context otherwise requires, means any diploma, degree, fellowship, membership, licence, authority to practise, letters testimonial, certificate or other status or document granted in respect of any branch or branches of medicine by any university, corporation, college or other body or by any department of, or persons acting under the authority of, the government of any country or place;

• " recognised overseas qualification " has the meaning given by section 19(2) above; " the register " means the register of medical practitioners, except that, in relation to a person registered with limited registration, it means the register of medical practitioners with limited registration;

• "the Registrar" has the meaning given by section 2(1) above but subject to sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph 16 of Schedule 1 to this Act;

• "the second Medical Directive" has the meaning given by section 17(4) above ; and

• "the statutory committees" means the committees specified in section 1(3) above.