GMC Defence Barristers Blog
Discussion around the legal issues faced by doctors
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.