ATA/505/1997•Medical title misuse and disciplinary sanction prescription
ATA/505/1997Court of Justice / Administrative ChamberAug 26, 1997Modified
Extracted by Omnilex
A physician challenged a disciplinary decision concerning inadequate treatment of naevi and the abusive use of a dermatologic surgery title. The court held that the sanction was governed by administrative prescription because the matter involved a federal contravention, not merely a cantonal one. On the merits, the court maintained discipline but reduced the ban from six months to four months.
LPS art. 126 al. 2 let. a-b; disciplinary sanction and prescription; where the conduct constitutes a federal contravention, the limitation period is governed by administrative law and not by a criminal-law prescription drawn from cantonal law. In assessing the sanction, the court may uphold the disciplinary measure while reducing its duration if the factual findings warrant discipline but justify moderation of the severity. The abusive use of a professional title and deficient medical diligence can substantiate disciplinary intervention, subject to proportionality (consid. 3-4).
Descripteurs
PROFESSION; PROFESSION SANITAIRE; USURPATION DE TITRE; MESURE DISCIPLINAIRE; PROCEDURE; PRESCRIPTION; CE
Normes
LPS.126 al.2 litt.a; LPS.126 al.2 litt.b
Résumé
Radiation d'un médecin ramenée de 6 à 4 mois; attitude médicale inadéquate dans le traitement de naevi (manque de rigueur et de précautions), et mention abusive d'un titre en chirurgie dermatologique. Prescription de la sanction. Contrairement au cas où l'on a affaire à une contravention de droit cantonal et où l'on applique une prescription tirée du droit pénal cantonal, il s'agit en l'espèce également d'une contravention fédérale qui entraîne l'application d'une prescription administrative. Radiation d'un médecin ramenée de 6 à 4 mois; attitude médicale inadéquate dans le traitement de naevi (manque de rigueur et de précautions), et mention abusive d'un titre en chirurgie dermatologique. Prescription de la sanction. Contrairement au cas où l'on a affaire à une contravention de droit cantonal et où l'on applique une prescription tirée du droit pénal cantonal, il s'agit en l'espèce également d'une contravention fédérale qui entraîne l'application d'une prescription administrative.
Extracted by Omnilex
Whether the disciplinary sanction was time-barred.
The sanction was subject to administrative prescription; the court held that the sanction was prescribed under the applicable administrative time limit.
The case involved not only a cantonal contravention but also a federal one, so the prescription rules of administrative law applied rather than a criminal-law prescription derived from cantonal law.
Whether the disciplinary sanction should be maintained at six months or reduced.
The disciplinary ban was reduced from six months to four months.
Although the physician’s conduct in treating naevi showed a lack of rigor and precautions, and the use of the dermatologic surgery title was abusive, the court considered a lesser sanction appropriate.
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