GMC Defence Barristers

What difference does legal representation really make in fitness to practise proceedings?

Doctors can appeal GMC decisions relating to registration, licensing, restoration and revalidation, but legal advice is key to good outcomes.

GMC Interim Sanctions – Overview A General Medical Council (GMC) fitness to practise investigations can take many months, if not years.  Whilst doctors could continue to work unrestricted during a GMC investigation, they could be referred to an Interim Orders Tribunal...

The General Medical Council (GMC) placed specific emphasis on its “zero tolerance of sexual harassment” in the updated Good medical practice that, for the first time, includes a “clear definition of what constitutes it and an expectation that doctors who see such...

The GMC has published the updated version of the Good Medical Practice. We look at the changes and what they mean for doctors.

A recent case serves as an important reminder to all doctors to ensure they maintain appropriate professional boundaries with patients at all times.

Contact from the GMC can be distressing for doctors and there are important things doctors should do when they receive correspondence from the GMC.

GMC fitness to practise investigations can take years, to conclude. Can you afford to not work, or work under restrictions, during this time?

Doctors under investigation may quickly find the GMC is far less concerned about protecting doctors highlighting the value of legal advice.

Does evidence of insight and remediation really make a difference before a Medical Practitioner’s Tribunal (MPT)?

IOT’s decide if a doctor’s practice should be restricted while an investigation takes place and orders must be reviewed six monthly.

The High Court recently provided useful guidance in circumstances where doctors wholly admit allegations and what bearing this has during the sanctions stage.

Swift J exclaimed that the “Good Medical Practice is the most important” of all GMC guidance for doctors, when was the last time you actually read it?

In general, self-referral is only considered necessary by the GMC in cases where a doctor’s health might impact on their fitness to practise.

One of the most important steps to protect a doctor’s medical licence is making sure they avoid common types of misconduct allegations.

The right to take industrial action is protected by UK employment law but it might benefit doctors to understand the GMC position and guidance.

The Department for Health and Social Care has published its response to proposals to reform fitness to practise in the UK.

Confidence in the GMC’s ability to work in the interest of doctors and the MPTS ability to make fair decisions are at an all-time low amongst doctors.

Fitness to practise investigations are traumatic experiences. We never lose sight of the human aspects of fitness to practise investigations and hearings.

A doctor who was erased from the GMC register has successfully applied for restoration with representation from Kings View.

We consider what doctors should know and what action might be necessary to avoid an investigation and sanction.

Responsible Officers can make a referral to the GMC if there have been “serious concerns” raised about a doctor’s fitness to practise.

The GMC’s provisional enquiries identifies cases that should not progress to a full fitness to practise investigation. How should doctors respond? What is a provisional enquiry? Before looking at how doctors should respond, what is General Medical Council (GMC)...

Dr Arora treatment by the GMC & MPTS has caused universal anger and outrage. A review of the case drew strong criticism of the GMC but will this result on long overdue change?

Where Case Examiners consider a warning but the doctor disputes the facts or is not willing to accept a warning, they have a right to an oral hearing.

Do doctors have to attend their MPTS hearings and what are the consequences for doctors who chose not to do so?

Dr K v GMC perfectly illustrates the value and importance of responding to an Interim Order extension application.