Conviction consultation by GMC

The GMC is consulting on its guidance to doctors on their duty to report certain criminal and regulatory matters to the GMC.

The current guidance requires doctors to notify the GMC if, anywhere in the world, they have accepted a caution, been charged with or found guilty of a criminal offence, or if another professional body has made a finding against their registration as a result of fitness to practise procedures.

At the moment, criminal procedings include:

• accepting a police caution (or, in Scotland, a fiscal fine)
• being charged with a criminal offence
• being convicted of a criminal offence.

However, it does not include road traffic offences where the doctor accepts the option of paying a fixed penalty notice.

The new draft guidance adds that the following must also be reported:

• a Penalty Notice for Disorder (in England and Wales) or a Fixed Penalty Notice under the Anti-Social Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004
• a warning for the possession of cannabis
• an Anti-Social Behaviour Order, whether as the result of civil or criminal proceedings.

The closing date for comments is 18 July.