Docs, nurses convicted of serious crimes face job bans

Doctors and nurses who have committed a serious crime, may soon no longer be allowed to work with patients. Minister Edith Schippers of Public Health wants the disciplinary court to be able to impose a total professional ban on healthcare personnel who have committed a sexual or violent offense. Currently, after a conviction by the disciplinary court, a doctor or nurse is removed from the BIG-register. This means that they can not have their own practice and are forbidden to perform certain medical procedures. But working at an institution is still possible, if they work on behalf of a colleague. In this case convicted doctors or nurses are still able to work with patients. This possibility should be restricted by Schippers' proposed ban. It may involve a total professional ban, or a ban on working with certain patient groups, such as children. Along with the Ministry of Security and Justice, it will now be examined how such a ban can fit into the existing disciplinary rules.