GMC Defence Barristers Blog | Doctor Legal Articles

GMC referrals to MPTS up by 40%

Figures releases by the General Medical Council (GMC) has shown a 40% increase in the number of referrals to the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) in the last year.

Police cautions – do I need to declare a caution?

Cautions must be declared to healthcare regulatory bodies such as the GMC. There is often uncertainty over cautions, what they are and whether they should be declared.

Who can bring an appeal against a MPTS Fitness to Practise decision?

When a decision by the MPTS is made in relation to a doctor’s fitness to practise, that decision can be subject to an appeal by various parties.

Whistleblowing to GMC – when and how to raise and act on concerns

This is a complex topic, and unfortunately many doctors feel unsure how to correctly balance the requirements of patient safety, public interest, responsibilities to colleagues and duties to employers.

Refusal to give evidence and inference in GMC FtP cases

Negative conclusions can be drawn by the GMC's medical practitioners tribunal service (MPTS) panel if doctors decide not to testify or give evidence in their disciplinary tribunal.

State indemnity scheme and GMC FtP referrals

The rules governing the scheme include provision for NHS Resolution to share information about claims with the GMC.

Senior healthcare leaders need more support to ensure good patient care

A General Medical Council (GMC) commission study found that senior healthcare staff are unprepared and unsupported for the challenges of leadership during the early stages of their management careers.

Doctor rest breaks and overtime – Court of Appeal ruling

Junior doctors have won a court case against a hospital trust over rest breaks which “could have far-reaching implications for the NHS.”

GMC to regulate two new associates roles

The Department of Health and Social Care has announced the General Medical Council (GMC) will regulate physician associates (PA) and anaesthesia associates.

Government proposals to reform GMC fitness to practise process

LinkedIn Twitter The Government has set out plans to modernise fitness to practise processes and give healthcare regulators greater autonomy to be responsive to a fast-changing healthcare environment. The UK Department of Health & Social Care has published its...

BAME doctors are more likely to be referred to GMC

Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) doctors are more likely to be referred to the GMC in fitness to practise cases than their white counterparts.

Reflective practice – Doctors

The leaders of nine healthcare regulators, including the GMC, have signed a joint statement to stress the benefits of good reflection among healthcare professionals.

Are BAME doctors more likely to be investigated than white ones?

The BBC recently shared the experience of a Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) doctor who was jailed but his conviction was quashed on appeal.

Independent review of gross negligence manslaughter and culpable homicide in medical practice

Doctors being investigated after the death of a patient should expect official investigations to take into account their working environments and pressures.

What happens when someone raises a concern with the GMC

When a doctor’s fitness to practise is called in to question, the GMC has a legal obligation to investigate the complaint to establish if the doctor’s fitness to practise may be impaired.

Government relax immigration rules for overseas doctors

Overseas doctors will no longer have to meet onerous visa and immigration restrictions to work in the NHS.

Is video-link evidence becoming the norm in MPTS hearings?

At a hearing at the Medical Practitioner’s Tribunal Service any party can make an application to have a witness’s evidence heard by video-link.

Doctor happy with MPTS outcome for prescribing for family members

GMC Defence Barristers were successful in persuading the MPTS to impose a conditions of practise order for a doctor.