Medisch tuchtrecht: vergaande herziening noodzakelijk

The purpose of medical disciplinary law is to monitor and promote the quality of professional practice. This objective is insufficiently achieved, and the structure of the disciplinary procedure therefore requires drastic improvement. In disciplinary law, the (individual) complainant has been given too much responsibility for the general interest of quality assurance and promotion in healthcare. Continuing to refine the complainant’s position will not substantially improve the functioning of disciplinary law. The complainant should be denied direct access to the disciplinary procedure and the right to complain should be vested exclusively in the Inspectorate. The submission of complaints by the Inspectorate must be limited to those matters that contribute to the purpose of disciplinary law. The system outlined will significantly reduce the number of unnecessary disciplinary proceedings, and the associated pressure on the accused professionals as well as the burden on the disciplinary committees.

Conflict of interest and financial support: none declared.