that evidence is given in a court of law. The tribunal is empowered to issue summons to compel people to attend the tribunal to give evidence. The tribunal may also direct a written notice for a person or organisation to produce documentation. Outcomes If the tribunal after an inquiry determines the matters proved against the nurse or midwife, the tribunal has a number of options available to it. The tribunal may caution or only reprimand the person concerned. It may direct the person to seek medical or psychiatric treatment or counselling. It may order that the person complete an educational course. The tribunal may impose conditions on the continuing practice of the nurse or midwife. In extreme cases, the tribunal may order the suspension or removal of the nurse or midwife from practising. The tribunal is required to given written reasons of its decision within 30 days of the finalisation of the case. There is a right of appeal in certain circumstances to the Supreme Court of New South Wales against the decision of the tribunal. Typical cases in the tribunal The decisions of the tribunal are available on the internet beginning with decisions made in 2007. From time to time, decisions of the tribunal attract media attention. In 2006, the tribunal deregistered a nurse employed to look after dementia patients at a retirement village. The tribunal found that the nurse had engaged in professional misconduct as her nursing care was unskilled. The tribunal found that the nurse had fallen asleep whilst caring for her patients, mocked or demeaned patients, and had used excessive force in dealing with patients. In another case the tribunal ordered the suspension of a nurse for professional misconduct. The nurse was an addict of pethidine and was found to be administering pethidine to herself whilst on duty. On a one occasion, her use of the drug caused her after helping a patient shower, swung the patient’s underpant above her head whilst laughing. The nurse concerned was also found to have administered pethidine to patients without prescription and also to have destroyed out-of-date pethidine without supervision. References Sources “Review of the Nurses Act 1991 Report “ NSW Department of Health http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/legal/pdf/nursesreport.pdf Annual Report of Nurses and Midwives Board 2006. http://www.nmb.nsw.gov.au/ArticleDocuments/report2006.pdf.aspx Nurses and Midwives Act 1991 (NSW) Second Reading Speech in New South Wales Legislative Assembly 30 May 2003. http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/nswbills.nsf/0/a2250d88feebdb05ca256d33001d68a0/$FILE/A4503.pdf Former New South Wales courts and tribunals