GMC Defence Barristers
Blog & NewsThe latest news on everything GMC related and blog posts from GMC Defence Barrister Stephen McCaffrey.
GMC investigation closed following legal representations
A healthcare professional, identified as KT, instructed Kings View Chambers after experiencing difficulties with a number of ongoing regulatory matters.
Suspension revoked at MPTS review hearing following six-month order
A doctor who had previously been suspended by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) has had the suspension revoked with immediate effect following a successful review hearing.
Understanding disproportionate fitness to practise referrals: why doctors must act early to protect their careers
Disproportionate fitness to practise referrals to the GMC continue to affect doctors from minority ethnic backgrounds and those who qualified outside the UK.
The right of appeal in fitness to practise cases and why early legal engagement matters
Fitness to practise appeals explained: understand your rights, strict deadlines, and why early legal advice is crucial to avoid adverse findings and protect your career.
GMC consultation on updated personal beliefs guidance
We look at the GMC’s updated personal beliefs guidance and what this means for doctors and fitness to practise.
Court of Appeal clarifies how tribunals should apply sanctions guidance in fitness to practise cases
Court of Appeal ruling clarifies how the GMC’s Sanctions Guidance should be applied in fitness to practise cases, especially involving non‑clinical misconduct, confirming a structured but evaluative approach for MPTS and other UK healthcare regulators.
Allegations found not proven for doctor facing extremely serious allegations
We represented a doctor before the MPTS on extremely serious allegations, with the Tribunal finding none proved.
Excessive fitness to practise referrals leave UK health professionals under growing strain
Excessive fitness to practise referrals cause stress and anxiety for UK health professionals. Learn how to protect yourself and when to seek expert FtP defence.
Fitness to practise inequalities affecting ethnic minority and non‑UK qualified doctor
Ethnic minority and non‑UK qualified doctors remain disproportionately represented in GMC fitness to practise referrals and investigations.
High Court ruling highlights risks of facing fitness to practise hearings alone
High Court ruling warns that attending fitness to practise hearings without specialist legal support can lead to unfair outcomes.
2025 Fitness to Practise in Review: Key trends shaping UK regulation
Our 2025 fitness to practise review highlights key FtP issues, major regulatory trends and the strong outcomes we achieved for clients this year.
Sexual misconduct, remediation and fitness to practise: lessons from Sadiq v GMC
Sexual misconduct is hard to remediate, but insight and structured remediation can still influence sanctions.
The GMC’s new guidance on raising patient safety concerns: implications for doctors’ fitness to practise
The GMC’s new consultation reinforces doctors’ duty to raise patient safety concerns, with fitness to practise risks for failures and a need for early expert legal advice.
Assessing insight when a registrant denies allegations in fitness to practise proceedings
How fitness to practise panels can assess genuine insight when a registrant denies allegations and offers no apology, balancing fairness with public protection.
Changes to MPTS Tribunal Guidance: What doctors need to know
The MPTS has published revised tribunal guidance that will come into effect on 24 November 2025.
Case review: GMC closes case against doctor without sanction
The GMC closed its case and investigation against our client at Provisional Enquiry stage with no further action.
High court upholds GMC’s fitness to practise framework for physician and anaesthesia associates
The High Court upheld the GMC’s fitness to practise standards for Physician and Anaesthesia Associates.
Doctor escapes serious regulatory action following fitness to practise investigation
A doctor received a formal warning after a Fitness to Practise investigation into a drink driving incident, avoiding further regulatory action through early remediation.
Doctor secures successful outcome at MPTS hearing following expert legal support
A doctor has successfully defended their professional standing following a full fitness to practise hearing before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS). The case involved multiple allegations and required meticulous preparation, strategic legal input, and...
GMC fitness to practise case success: avoiding erasure after criminal conviction
Doctor avoided erasure after GMC proceedings with expert advice from Kings View Chambers, resulting in suspension and successful return to practice.
The toll of prolonged fitness to practise investigations and the role of expert legal representation
Fitness to practise investigations help uphold UK care standards, but prolonged cases can cause serious personal and professional harm to healthcare professionals.
Understanding Accepted Outcomes in Fitness to Practise
Accepted outcomes create a paper-based route for resolving fitness to practise cases; examiners may impose measures if offers go unanswered.
Doctor avoids erasure
Our client, a doctor, has avoided erasure in a complicated case involving expert evidence, unusual internal processes and integrity allegations.
Interim Orders in Professional Regulation
Interim orders are a crucial regulatory tool used early in fitness to practise investigations but with potentially significant impacts on healthcare professionals’ practice, careers, and personal well-being.
Does remediation matter in fitness to practise?
We look at the importance of remediation in fitness to practise, what remediation means and how it can impact on the outcome of an investigation or hearing.
GMC’s duty of care. Is legal representation the answer?
The position on the GMC’s duty of care is now unquestionably clear. We look at the value of legal representation to assist doctors with the stress and anxiety associated with investigations.
Does the GMC have a duty of care to doctors under investigation?
In Suresh & Ors v GMC, the Court examined the GMC’s duty of care and Human Rights Act obligations for doctors under investigation.
Successful GMC restoration for our client
With representation from Kings View Chambers, our client’s application for registration was successful on first attempt.
Credibility & Reliability of Witness’ evidence in Fitness to Practise Hearings
Tribunals assess witnesses’ credibility and reliability in resolving disputes or when evidence has a significant impact on outcomes.
Doctor able to practice unrestricted
With representation from Kings View Chambers, a fitness to practise tribunal made a finding of no impairment leaving our client to practice unrestricted.