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Keep an open mind

06 July 2012 / Melanie Mcdonald
Issue: 7521 / Categories: Features , Employment
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Melanie McDonald calls for FTP panels to be more accepting of hearsay evidence

In the context of fitness to practise (FTP) proceedings, the admission of hearsay evidence remains controversial and gives rise to extensive argument before FTP panels. In this article I argue that, notwithstanding the recent decisions in Ogbonna v Nursing and Midwifery Council [2010] EWCA Civ 1216, [2010] All ER (D) 23 (Nov) and R (on the application of Bonhoeffer) v General Medical Council [2011] EWHC 1585 Admin, [2011] All ER (D) 141 (Jun), that FTP panels should be more willing to adopt a similar approach to that of the civil courts when determining the issue of its admissibility.

Learning to be civil

Stepping into the curious world of healthcare professional regulation from an exclusively civil practice at the Bar, I was immediately struck by how deeply rooted in criminal procedure many of its mores were, owing more to antiquated magistrates proceedings than a modern civil forum. This is notwithstanding the fact that the civil standard of proof

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

DWF—19 appointments

DWF—19 appointments

Belfast team bolstered by three senior hires and 16 further appointments

Cadwalader—Andro Atlaga

Cadwalader—Andro Atlaga

Firm strengthens leveraged finance team with London partner hire

Knights—Ella Dodgson & Rebecca Laffan

Knights—Ella Dodgson & Rebecca Laffan

Double hire marks launch of family team in Leeds

NEWS
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve reports on Haynes v Thomson, the first judicial application of the Supreme Court’s For Women Scotland ruling in a discrimination claim, in this week's NLJ
Charlie Mercer and Astrid Gillam of Stewarts crunch the numbers on civil fraud claims in the English courts, in this week's NLJ. New data shows civil fraud claims rising steadily since 2014, with the King’s Bench Division overtaking the Commercial Court as the forum of choice for lower-value disputes
The Supreme Court issued a landmark judgment in July that overturned the convictions of Tom Hayes and Carlo Palombo, once poster boys of the Libor and Euribor scandal. In NLJ this week, Neil Swift of Peters & Peters considers what the ruling means for financial law enforcement
Small law firms want to embrace technology but feel lost in a maze of jargon, costs and compliance fears, writes Aisling O’Connell of the Solicitors Regulation Authority in this week's NLJ
Artificial intelligence may be revolutionising the law, but its misuse could wreck cases and careers, warns Clare Arthurs of Penningtons Manches Cooper in this week's NLJ
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