ABSTRACT
The General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) is the regulatory body for osteopaths. The Government has recently created statutory bodies such as the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence and the National Clinical Assessment Authority, both of which have powers to intervene with the regulatory procedure but, currently, these regulatory procedures still substantially remain with the regulatory bodies such as GOsC. Under Section 20 of the Osteopaths Act 1993, GOsC has legal powers to consider cases where it is alleged that an osteopath has been guilty of professional misconduct or incompetence, convicted of a criminal offence or impaired by health problems. The osteopath's response may be sent to the complainant for comments and, in the event that more information is provided by the complainant, the osteopath has a further opportunity to make additional observations. The osteopath's own evidence will be presented by questioning from the barrister acting for the osteopath and cross-examined by the barrister acting for the Council.
