Openness in legal and disciplinary hearings
D18
You must follow the law.
D19
You must inform the General Optical Council (GOC), all relevant authorities and your employers if there are any matters relating to your character, behaviour, judgement or health that may impair your fitness to practise.305
D20
You must declare to the GOC and all relevant authorities all criminal convictions, cautions and disciplinary proceedings, including minor misdemeanours, but not road traffic offences which are dealt with by a fixed penalty notice.
D21
You must co-operate with formal and informal investigations, fitness to practise hearings and complaints about you or colleagues, while following guidance on confidentiality.306
D22
The College has produced guidance for optometrists who undertake work as expert witnesses.307
See sections on Confidentiality, Dealing with complaints, Working with colleagues and Raising concerns.
References
305 General Optical Council (2013) Declarations guidance for fully qualified registrants [Accessed 1 Nov 2023]306 General Optical Council. Investigating complaints [Accessed 1 Nov 2023]
307 The College of Optometrists. Expert witnesses [Accessed 1 Nov 2023]