Charge

The Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal considered a charge of practising without a current practising certificate laid by a Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) appointed by the Dental Council of New Zealand against Mrs Vicki Anderson, registered dental technician and clinical dental technicicn of Kawerau (the Practitioner).

The charge alleged that the Practitioner practised the profession of dental technology and/or clinical dental technology between on or around 1 April 2016 and November 2016 when she knew or ought to have known that she did not hold a current practising certificate (section 100(1)(d) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (HPCA Act)).

The Practitioner admitted the charge and the hearing proceeded on the basis of an agreed summary of facts.

Finding

The Tribunal accepts that to establish a charge of this nature all that is needed to be proven is that the Practitioner was registered with the releveant scope of practise, that she had practised in one or other or both scopes of practice and during the period of practise, she did not have a current annual practising certificate.  Whether the Practitioner did this intentionally or not is not determinative of the charge.

The Tribunal is satisfied the facts were established and the Practitioner contravened section 100(1)(d) of the HPCA Act.

Penalty

The Tribunal censured the Practitioner and ordered her to pay a fine of $1,000, together with a contribution to the costs of and incidental to the Tribunal and the PCC amounting to $10,150.

The Tribunal directed publication of its decision and a summary.