MPS’s response to GMC’s draft Good Medical Practice 2012

We welcome the new version of Good Medical Practice and are pleased that it is a concise document. Given that these are the standards against which doctors are measured we feel that it is important that GMC guidance is short and accessible to ensure that busy doctors are able to read and act on it.

However, we have concerns that some of the guidance is impractical and that it does not consider the realities of actual practice or the broad variation in the scope of current practice and different working environments. We also feel that some of Good Medical Practice would extend doctor’s responsibilities too far into non-clinical aspects of patients’ lives.

It is important that the guidance focuses on laying down sound principles on which doctors should conduct their professional lives, the duties that are expected of them by the GMC and the standards against which they will be judged. It should not overburden them with excessive additional responsibilities.

Read the full response document here >>