A

BILL

ΤΟ

Alter and amend the Laws regulating the Medical
Profession.

W

HEREAS it is expedient to amend the Laws relating to Preamble. the Medical Profession: Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in 5 this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, as follows:

I. This Act may for all Purposes be cited as "The Medical Act, Short Title. 1856."

II. This Act shall commence and take effect from the First Day Commence10 of August One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.

ment of Act.

III. From and after the Commencement of this Act, the several Acts Repeal of and Parts of Acts set forth in the Schedule (A.) to this Act annexed, Acts. to the Extent to which such Acts or Parts of Acts are by such Schedule expressed to be repealed, shall be repealed, except as to the

Medical
Council.

Qualification.

Recovery and Application of any Penalty for any Offence which shall have been committed before the Commencement of this Act.

Appoint

ment of
Members of
First
Council.

IV. A Council shall be established, which shall be styled "The Medical Council of the United Kingdom," and shall consist of One Person chosen from Time to Time by each of the following Bodies: The University of Oxford.

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The University of Cambridge.

The University of London.
The University of Edinburgh.
The University of Glasgow.
The University of Aberdeen.
The University of St. Andrews.
The University of Dublin.
The Queen's University in Ireland.
The College of Physicians of England.
The College of Surgeons of England.
The College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
The College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
The Faculty of Glasgow.

The College of Physicians of Ireland.

The College of Surgeons of Ireland.

And Eight Persons to be elected as herein-after provided, and hereinafter called "The Representative Members."

V. Every Person so chosen by the said several Universities, Colleges, and Faculty must be qualified to be registered under this Act; the First Appointment by each of these Bodies shall be made within Three Months after the Commencement of this Act.

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15

VIII. On

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Tenure of

Office by
Members

VI. Every Member of the Medical Council chosen by the said several Universities, Colleges, and Faculty, shall be entitled to chosen by the hold Office for Three Years, and shall then go out of Office, but may 30 Colleges. forthwith be re-chosen.

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VII. The Secretary of State for the Home Department shall, within Three Months after the Commencement of this Act, appoint Eight Persons qualified to be registered under this Act to be the Eight Members of the First Medical Council not chosen by the said several 35 Universities, Colleges, and Faculty, Four of such Persons to be appointed for England, Two for Scotland, and Two for Ireland; and the said Eight Members of the First Medical Council shall hold Office till the First Day of June One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, and shall then go out of Office.

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tive Mem

VIII. On the First, Second, and Third Days of June One thousand Election of eight hundred and fifty-seven, and on the First, Second, and Third RepresentaDays of June in every Third succeeding Year, the Eight Representa- bers. tive Members of the Medical Council shall be elected in the Manner 5 herein-after provided; Four of such Representative Members to be elected by those Persons whose Names shall appear in the last printed Medical Register, to be published as herein-after provided, as registered for England; Two of such Representative Members to be elected by those Persons whose Names shall appear in like Medical Register as 10 registered for Scotland; and Two of such Representative Members to

be elected by those Persons whose Names shall appear in the like Medical Register as registered for Ireland; and each of the said Representative Members shall remain in Office for Three Years, and shall then go out of Office, but may forthwith be re-elected.

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to be nomi

IX. At any Time not less than Forty clear Days next previous to Candidates the First Day of every Election of Representative Members of the for Council Medical Council for England, Scotland, or Ireland respectively, any nated. Person entitled to vote at such Election may give or transmit to the Medical Registrar to be appointed as herein-after provided a Paper, ac20 cording to the Form in Schedule (B.) No. 1, signed by not less than Twenty Persons entitled to vote at such Election, containing the Name of any Person registered under this Act they may think fit to be elected as a Representative Member at the then ensuing Election; and the Medical Registrar shall cause all such Names so given or transmitted 25 for England, Scotland, or Ireland respectively to be printed, together with the Names of the Two First Persons recommending the same, and shall also cause the Names of the Representative Members for England, Scotland, or Ireland respectively then going out of Office to be printed, in the respective Voting Papers to be used at the said Election; and 30 such Persons so nominated shall be the only Persons eligible to be elected Representative Members for England, Scotland, or Ireland respectively, on the Day of Election.

X. Every Election of Representative Members shall be held at the Place of Office of the Medical Registrar, or at such other Place as the Medical Election. 35 Council shall appoint; and the Medical Registrar shall give public

Notice of the Time and Place for the holding of such Election by
Advertisement in Two or more Newspapers published in London,
Edinburgh, and Dublin, Ten Days at least before such Election.

Elections.

XI. Every Election of Representative Members shall be held before Method of 40 the Medical Registrar, and the voting at every such Election shall com- voting at mence at Nine of the Clock of the Forenoon of the First Day, and shall finally close at Nine of the Clock of the Afternoon of the last Day; and every Person entitled to vote may in England vote for any Number

Result of Election, how to be declared.

of Persons not exceeding Four, and may in Scotland and Ireland vote
for any Number of Persons not exceeding Two, by delivering to the
Medical Registrar or his Deputy, or by sending through the Post, the
Postage being prepaid, a Voting Paper, according to the Form in
Schedule (B.) No. 2, containing the Names of the Persons for whom 5
he votes; and the Medical Registrar shall transmit by Post to every
Person entitled to vote at such Election, Fourteen Days at least before
the First Day of Election, One Voting Paper as aforesaid; and no
Voting Paper other than the One procured from the Medical Regis-
trar, executed as therein directed, and delivered to the Medical 10
Registrar or his Deputy by the Person voting, or transmitted by the
Post, as aforesaid, to the Medical Registrar or his Deputy, and re-
ceived by the Medical Registrar or his Deputy on one of the Days
of Election before Nine of the Clock of the Afternoon, shall be
counted a good and valid Vote.

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XII. The Medical Registrar shall after the Close of the last Polling Day for every Election of Representative Members proceed to examine the Voting Papers so delivered or transmitted as aforesaid, for the Purpose of ascertaining which Persons are elected; and the Four Persons to whom the greatest Number of Votes shall have been given by Per- 20 sons qualified to vote in England shall be the Representative Members elected for England, and the Two Persons to whom the greatest Number of Votes shall have been given by Persons qualified to vote in Scotland shall be the Representative Members elected for Scotland, and the Two Persons to whom the greatest Number of Votes shall 25 have been given by Persons qualified to vote in Ireland shall be the Representative Members elected for Ireland; and in case of an Equality in the Number of Votes for any Two or more Persons for England, Scotland, or Ireland respectively, at any such Election, the Medical Registrar shall ballot out of the said Number of Persons having such 30 equal Number of Votes so many as shall be necessary to complete the whole Number of Members to be elected, and such Persons whose Names shall have been drawn at such Ballot, together with such Persons as shall have had the greatest Number of Votes for England, Scotland, and Ireland respectively, shall be declared by the Medical Registrar to 35 be duly elected the Representative Members for England, Scotland, and Ireland respectively, and the Names of the Persons so elected shall be published in Two or more Newspapers published in London, Edinburgh, and Dublin, not later than Twenty-one Days after such Election,

Council to

to

XIII. The Medical Council shall, before the Day of any Election 40 appoint Two of Representative Members, appoint Two Members of the Medical superintend Council, not being any of the Representative Members, who shall be present during the Polling Day, and during the Examination of the Voting Papers and the Ballot by the Medical Registrar, and who

Election.

who shall, at the Close of such Election, certify that it has been fairly
conducted according to the Provisions of this Act, and sign the Return
made and to be published by the Medical Registrar.

Accidental
Omission of

XIV. No accidental Omission either in sending the Voting Voting
5 Papers, or in any other respect, shall be held to invalidate any Papers not
Election of Representative Members.

to invalidate Election.

ment of

XV. In the event of any One of the Representative Members Appointdying or resigning, or becoming incapable to discharge his Duties, Members in during the Term for which he holds Office, the Medical Council event of Vacancy, 10 shall appoint a fit and proper Person being registered under this Act

for England, Scotland, or Ireland, as the Case may be, to fill the Place
of the Representative Member so dying, resigning, or becoming
incapable to discharge his Duties.

XVI. There shall be paid to the Members of the Medical Council Fees.
15 such Fees for Attendance and such reasonable Travelling Expenses as
shall from Time to Time be allowed by the Medical Council, and
be approved by the said Secretary of State.

Place of

XVII. The Medical Council shall hold their First Meeting in Time and such Place and at such Time as the said Secretary of State shall Meeting. 20 appoint, and shall elect One of their Members to be their President,

and shall hold their future Meetings in such Places and at such Times
as they themselves shall appoint; and at every Meeting in the
Absence of the President some other Member to be chosen from
the Members then present shall act as President; and all Acts of the
25 Medical Council shall be decided by the Votes of the Majority of the

Members present at any Meeting, the whole Number not being less
than Six; and at all such Meetings the President for the Time
being shall in addition to his Vote have a Casting Vote in case of an
Equality of Votes.

ment of

30 XVIII. The Medical Council shall appoint a Treasurer and Secretary, Appoint-
and so many Clerks and Servants as shall be necessary for the Pur- Treasurer,
poses of this Act; and every Person so appointed shall be removable Secretary,
and Servants.
at the Pleasure of the Medical Council, and shall be paid such Salary
as the Medical Council shall think fit.

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XIX. The Medical Council shall, within Three Months after their Preliminary Examination First Meeting, appoint Examiners in London, Edinburgh, and Dublin in Classics. respectively to examine in General Education after a Scheme to be approved by the Medical Council; and such Examiners shall receive such Remuneration as the Medical Council shall think fit, and shall 40 hold Office for such Period as the Medical Council shall determine; and no Person, other than a Graduate in some University of the United