Debate over suspending licences of doctors facing negligence charges in Cyprus

A controversy has reignited in Cyprus regarding the ability of medical professionals to continue practicing while facing criminal charges for medical negligence. The debate centers on a 2022 proposal by the Cyprus Medical Association (CyMA) to amend the Doctors Law, which would have granted the judicial system the power to suspend a doctor’s license temporarily during ongoing proceedings. The Law Office of the Republic rejected this proposal, leaving a legislative gap that currently allows practitioners accused of serious misconduct to remain active, posing potential risks to public health.

The issue gained renewed attention following reports from the newspaper Politis regarding a gynecologist who is the subject of multiple negligence complaints. One specific allegation involves a patient who was reportedly reassured by the doctor while suffering from stage-three cancer, an event dated February 21, 2025. Correspondence from June 2022 reveals that the CyMA had sought to allow its disciplinary council to apply for court-ordered suspensions of up to two years, or longer under exceptional circumstances, if deemed necessary for the public interest or patient safety. The current legal framework remains unchanged, as the proposal was never enacted into law.