MDU scrutinising revised guidance for doctors on good medical practice

Responding to today’s announcement that the GMC is seeking views on a revised version of Good medical practice, the Medical Defence Union (MDU) said that it will be scrutinising the significant changes being proposed.

The MDU, the UK’s leading medical defence organisation, explained that regulations must be compatible with the realities of doctors’ working lives and that every word in the guidance matters when judging a doctor’s fitness to practise.

Dr Caroline Fryar, director of medical services at the MDU, said:

“Doctors across the UK are working harder than ever – in a system that is constantly being tried and tested. Regulations, sets of rules and guidance documents must be compatible with the realities of doctors’ daily working lives, and support them to get on with the job of safely caring for patients.

“Good medical practice is at the core of everything the GMC does – setting the professional behaviours and care standards it expects of all doctors practising in the UK. It is one of the central tools used by the GMC in its fitness to practise processes, so every paragraph, and every single word, in the guidance document matters. In this consultation, the GMC is proposing significant changes whilst also making a number of additions.

“The MDU will scrutinise this proposed revision of the guidance very carefully. Through guiding, supporting and defending our members in GMC matters, we have considerable experience of how Good medical practice is viewed by both doctors and the GMC itself.

“We look forward to thoroughly engaging with this consultation over the coming months – ensuring the guidance delivers for doctors, so they can deliver for patients.”