GMC
GMC is updating good medical practice
By Ashwin, UK Correspondent
Nov 3, 2004 - 8:58:00 AM

Good Medical Practice, the �bible� for doctors, is being reviewed and updated. Good Medical Practice is the cornerstone of GMC guidance for doctors, and is given to every doctor when they register with General Medical Council, UK.

It sets out the principles of good medical practice and explains that serious or persistent failures to comply with the guidance may put doctors� registration at risk.

It is these standards which are being put out to consultation.

This is a major project which will enable GMC to be sure our core guidance reflects a consensus between patients and the profession on what is expected of doctors. It will also provide an opportunity to develop closer working relationships with a wide range of patient, public and medical organisations.

The review has begun with an informal consultation period, in which we are seeking views from a wide range of professional bodies, patient and public organisations and charities, Council members, and our associates and others, on the strengths and weaknesses of the current guidance and ideas for how it could change. The document is also available on the GMC's website (www.gmc-uk.org). Comments must be submitted by 26 November 2004.

GMC will be considering the outcome of the consultation and responding to it in revising or rewriting the guidance during 2005. A formal consultation is planned for the early Autumn 2005.

Before the publication of Good Medical Practice in 1995 the GMC guidance dealt primarily with �forms of misconduct� which might lead to a doctor being struck off the register. The publication of Good Medical Practice represented a cultural change. It was addressed to all doctors, identifying the principles of good practice, as one of the means in which standards of care could be improved.

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