Medical Act 1983

[F1 [F2 44C Indemnity arrangements U.K.

(1) A person who holds a licence to practise as a medical practitioner, and practises as such, must have in force in relation to him an indemnity arrangement which provides appropriate cover for practising as such.

(2) For the purposes of this section, an “indemnity arrangement” may comprise—

(a) a policy of insurance;

(b) an arrangement for the purposes of indemnifying a person;

(c) a combination of the two.

(3) For the purposes of this section, “appropriate cover”, in relation to practice as a medical practitioner, means cover against liabilities that may be incurred in practising as such which is appropriate, having regard to the nature and extent of the risks of practising as such.

(4) The General Council may make regulations in connection with the information to be provided to the Registrar—

(a) by or in respect of a person seeking a licence to practise for the purpose of determining whether, if he is granted such a licence, there will be in force in relation to him by the time he begins to practise an indemnity arrangement which provides appropriate cover; and

(b) by or in respect of a person who holds a licence to practise for the purpose of determining whether there is in force in relation to him an indemnity arrangement which provides appropriate cover.

(5) Regulations made under subsection (4)(b) may require the information mentioned there to be provided—

(a) at the request of the Registrar; or

(b) on such dates or at such intervals as the Registrar may determine, either generally or in relation to individual practitioners or practitioners of a particular description.

(6) The General Council may also make regulations requiring a person who holds a licence to practise to inform the Registrar if there ceases to be in force in relation to him an indemnity arrangement which provides appropriate cover.

(7) The General Council may also make regulations requiring a person who holds a licence to practise to inform the Registrar if there is in force in relation to him appropriate cover provided under an indemnity arrangement by an employer.

(8) A licensing authority may refuse to grant a licence to practise to any person who fails to comply, or in respect of whom there is a failure to comply, with regulations made under subsection (4)(a).

(9) Where a person who holds a licence to practise is in breach of subsection (1) or there is a failure to comply with regulations made under subsection (4)(b) in relation to him—

(a) a licensing authority may withdraw that person's licence to practise; or

(b) the breach or failure may be treated as misconduct for the purposes of section 35C(2)(a) , and the Registrar may accordingly refer the matter to the Investigation Committee under section 35C(4).

(10) Regulations made under subsection (4), (6) or (7) shall not have effect until approved by the Privy Council.

(11) This section does not apply to a person who holds a licence to practise as a result of registration under Schedule 2A (visiting medical practitioners from relevant European States).]]

Textual Amendments

F1 Pt. V substituted (1.7.2003 for the substitution of s. 41A(2)(a) and Pt. V heading for specified purposes as notified in the London Gazette dated 1.7.2003, 7.7.2004 for the substitution of s. 35CC(1) as notified in the London Gazette dated 2.7.2004, 1.11.2004 in so far as not already in force except for the substitution of ss. 41(7)(8), 41C, 44(4), 44A(3) as notified in the London Gazette dated 8.10.2004, 16.11.2009 for the insertion of s. 41C as notified in the London Gazette dated 21.8.2009) by The Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/3135), art. 1(2)(3), 13 (with Sch. 2)

F2 S. 44C substituted (17.7.2014) by The Health Care and Associated Professions (Indemnity Arrangements) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/1887), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 1(1) (with Sch. 3 paras. 2-5)