The General Medical Council (GMC), the regulatory body for medical professionals is currently considering proposals to impose stricter sanctions on doctors who cause harm to their patients. Currently, the GMC has powers to restrict practice, impose a suspension of various lengths of time, or permanently 'strike off' a doctor from the register. In a press release sent out on Friday, the GMC invited views on the following new proposals:
- Imposing sanctions where doctors make serious clinical errors, even where they have successfully retrained and improved their practice, if they failed to heed concerns and take steps to protect patients sooner.
- Whether panels should require a doctor to apologise where they have previously failed to do so.
- Imposing more serious action in cases where doctors fail to raise concerns about a colleague’s fitness to practice or take prompt action where a patient’s basic care needs are not being met.
- Improved public protection in cases where a doctor has bullied colleagues and put patients at risk or discriminated against others in their professional or personal life.
Over the years, there have been a number of high profile cases which have captured the public’s attention. A quick search on the internet brings up a whole host of cases where doctors have been struck off. It is clear to see that these are a minority of incidents, with thorough investigations being conducted before any decision is made, but it is important to recognise that mistakes do occur, often with devastating consequences for the patients
Arti Shah, solicitor commented, “From a patient’s perspective, it is good to hear that the GMC are recognising circumstances in which there have been serious breaches of duty where no further action has been taken against individuals. Patient safety is paramount, and any steps taken to achieving this to a higher degree is welcomed.”