The objective of protecting the health and safety of the public under ss 3A and 4 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW) requires disciplinary tribunals to consider not only the protection of patients from the particular practitioner's future misconduct, but also the denunciation of serious misconduct as a deterrent and the maintenance of public confidence in the profession. A tribunal that focuses only on the former consideration and fails to address the latter commits reviewable error. A disqualification order under s 149C(4)(b) does not require the practitioner to obtain a reinstatement order after the disqualification period expires.
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