Establishment of the Medical Council and meetings of the Medical Council

(1) There is hereby established a Medical Council consisting of– (a) the Director of Health Services, ex officio; who shall be a non-voting member; (b) two registered medical practitioners drawn from among the membership of the Medical and Dental Association of Belize, appointed by the Minister in his sole discretion; (c) one dental surgeon drawn from among the membership of the Medical and Dental Association of Belize, appointed by the Minister in his sole discretion; (d) two medical practitioners or two dental surgeons, or one of each, appointed by the Minister on the advice of the Belize Medical and Dental Association; and (e) the President of the Belize Medical and Dental Association, ex officio, who shall be a non- voting member; 10 Medical Practice Act and a medical practitioner or dental surgeon appointed by the Minister pursuant to paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) shall be a citizen of Belize who has not been the subject of an order in relation to an act of professional misconduct as defined in section 14 (6). (2) The Medical Council shall appoint a Secretary, or may request the Minister to appoint a Secretary to the Medical Council, and the Secretary shall not be a member of the Medical Council and shall not have the right to vote at meetings of the (3) The Minister shall appoint the Chairperson of the Medical Council from among the members of the Medical Council and the members of the Medical Council shall elect a Vice-Chairperson and Treasurer from among the members of (4) Every member of the Medical Council shall, other than the Director of Health Services and the President of the Belize Medical and Dental Association hold office for a period of three years unless that member vacates his office by death or (5) Any member of the Medical Council may, other than the Director of Health Services and the President of the Belize Medical and Dental Association, resign his office by letter addressed to the Minister. (6) No act or proceeding of the Medical Council shall be invalid by reason only of the existence of any vacancy amongst its members or a defect in the appointment of a member thereof. (7) The Minister may, if a member of the Medical Council is temporarily unable to discharge the duties of his office on account of ill health or absence from the country or for any other cause, with due regard to the provisions of sub-section (1) appoint another person to act in his place. Medical Practice Act 11 (8) A person appointed in place of a member pursuant to sub-section (7) shall hold office for the unexpired period of office of the member for which he has been appointed. (9) A member of the Medical Council shall have vacated his appointment where that member– (a) dies; (b) is certified of unsound mind; (c) is declared bankrupt by a court of competent jurisdiction; (d) not being an ex officio member, is absent without the leave of the Medical Council from four consecutive meetings of the Medical Council; or (e) not being ex officio member, ceases to be eligible to serve on the Medical Council. (10) The Medical Council shall hold meetings for the transaction of its business at such times and places and upon such days as the Chairperson may determine from time to time provided that the Medical Council shall meet at least once every two months. (11) The quorum for any meeting of the Medical Council shall be four members of whom the Chairperson shall be one, or in the absence of the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson. (12) A decision of the Medical Council shall be by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting and in the event of an equality of votes, the Chairperson shall have a casting or second vote. (13) The Secretary shall maintain proper records of the meetings of the Medical Council and the transaction of business 12 Medical Practice Act at the meetings, and such records shall be forwarded to the Minister after each meeting. (14) The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Medical Council, and in the absence of the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson shall preside.