Paragraph 9 Entitlement to be heard, representation and presence at hearings

At both an initial hearing and a review hearing the practitioner and the Solicitor shall be entitled to be heard by the Committee.

The practitioner may be represented by counsel or by a solicitor and, subject to paragraph (3), may be represented or accompanied by an officer of any professional organisation of which he is a member, by a member of his family and additionally may be accompanied by a medical adviser.

A person who represents or accompanies the practitioner shall not be entitled to give oral evidence at the hearing.

The Solicitor may be heard in person or by counsel.

For the purpose of arriving at any decision relating to the proceedings, the Committee shall exclude the practitioner, his representative and any person accompanying him, the Solicitor and, where the hearing is in public, members of the public.