On a de novo appeal from a professional disciplinary board, the Court makes its own decision but accords substantial weight to the Board's findings on matters peculiar to the profession, while being in as good a position as the Board on matters not dependent on professional expertise. Professional disciplinary penalties are protective, not punitive; where a practitioner has already been punished through the criminal justice system, the risk of re-offending is very low, and suspension would cause financial ruin, suspension may be inappropriate.
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