These procedures apply to full practicing Members of the Acupuncture Society who are professionally bound to comply with the Societies Code of Ethics, Rules and Regulations.

The Acupuncture society accepts no liability for the costs of the complainant or the practitioner in any case.

The Disciplinary committee will investigate the following types of complaint

Written complaints from a client of registered practicing member

Other allegations of breach of the Societies Code of Ethics, Rules and Regulations from any complainant

Complaints made to the Society from other Society members

Practitioners must report any complaints or criminal convictions made against them immediately to the Society and should also inform the insurance company covering their professional practice.

The committee may issue a formal warning or may suspend the practitioner pending investigation

The Registrar will remove any practitioner from the membership register found to have seriously contravened the Societies Code of Ethics, Rules and Regulations, all members have right of appeal to the appeal panel within six months

The Society reserves the right to take any action deemed appropriate by majority of committee consensus

The Appeal Panel consists of 2 society members and lay member who were not sitting on the original disciplinary committee judgment

The appeal panel's recommendations are final

Complaints must be made in writing to the disciplinary committee detailing the complainants name, address and contact details, the complaint, the practitioner involve, the date/dates, time and location of incident/incidents, documentary and supporting evidence and any witness statements and contact details

Only complaints about the professional conduct of full practicing Acupuncture Society member's who at the time of the complaint were administering TCM treatments are within the disciplinary committee's jurisdiction

Complaints must relate to incident or incidents which have taken place within the last 3 years

Practitioners under investigation and complainants must allow the disciplinary committee and the appeals panel access to examine the practitioners patient records involved in the incident or incidents

Complaints can only refer to member practitioners whose alleged misconduct occurred during treatments or with clients who had sought treatment within their professional capacity as a TCM practitioner.

Record of disciplinary committee cases will be retained by the committee in case there are future breaches

Any complaints received must be immediately reported to the complaints committee

Complaints must have sufficient grounds and evidence and be within the jurisdiction of the Disciplinary committee, the complainant must be informed in writing of the whether the committee can proceed to assess the complaint

If the complaint can be substantiated the practitioner and the complainant will be informed in writing

The disciplinary committee will ensure that both parties have copies of submitted evidence and will consider oral and written evidence the committee reserves the right to whether it should consider any new evidence which has arisen since the onset of the committees enquiries

Practitioners found in breach shall be informed in writing within 2 weeks of the recommendations of the Disciplinary committee

Either party can bring one person deemed relevant by the committee to speak on their behalf

Appeal criteria requires that new evidence be produced to show that the Disciplinary committee recommendations were made in error or vital information was withheld

Appeals can be made to the Society registrar within 28 days of the date of the Disciplinary committee report

The Appeal must be made in writing and must contain all information relating to the new evidence supporting their appeal.

The Society Registrar will determine that the appeal conforms to the appeal criteria

The Appeal Panel then writes to the complainant and practitioner informing them of the time, date and venue of the Appeal. Both parties are also sent copies of the new evidence.

Both parties are permitted to bring with them one representative who will either support them or speak on their behalf. No other participants will be allowed other than witnesses.

The Appeal Panel will consider the complaint in light of the oral evidence presented on the day regarding the new submitted written evidence. The Appeal Panel will then contact the Complainant and Practitioner within 28 days of the meeting with their findings which is final.