Response to High Court Verdict in the R.J Davis Case

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Osteopathic Council of New Zealand Response to High Court Verdict in the R.J Davis Case

Wellington, New Zealand - September 2013

The Osteopathic Council, which is responsible for the regulation of the osteopathic profession, was advised by the New Zealand Police on 5 April 2012 that Richard James Davis, a registered osteopath practising in Gisborne, had been charged with offences of alleged indecent assault and unlawful sexual connection in relation to certain of his clients. In accordance with its powers under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 to suspend practitioners alleged to have engaged in conduct relevant to a pending criminal proceeding, the Osteopathic Council, having followed the prescribed statutory process, suspended Mr Davis's practising certificate on 16 April 2012.

Given Mr Davis's conviction (and subject to his right of appeal) the Osteopathic Council will now appoint a Professional Conduct Committee under the Act which has the power to bring a charge before the Health Practitioners Disciplinan/ Tribunal that a practitioner "has been convicted of an offence that reflects adversely on his fitness to practice". If a charge of that sort is established, the Tribunal has the power to impose penalties, which include an order that the registration of the practitioner be cancelled or suspended.

ENDS

Original PDF: Press_release_Mr_Davis_6_Sep_2013.pdf

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