The GMC must make meaningful changes to the outdated Medical Act (1983)

We are calling on the General Medical Council to use the opportunity of the government’s renewed commitment to regulatory reform to make its fitness to practise process as fair as possible for doctors.

MDDUS is deeply concerned that anticipated changes to the GMC’s regulatory framework would regard doctors with a health concern, and who face investigation, as having a ‘lack of competence’.

We believe this is a retrograde step. We are looking to the GMC to use the government’s new commitment to make meaningful changes to the outdated Medical Act (1983) to have health retained as a standalone ground for action.

Dr John Holden, chief medical officer at MDDUS, said: “Removing the health ground is bad for doctors and bad for their patients. It could discourage doctors who are concerned their health is having a negative impact on their practice from speaking up at an early stage.

“Health cases need to be dealt with more sensitively than other cases. This is of utmost importance with cases involving mental health problems. It is simply not appropriate for health to be placed into the same ground as competency.

“In fact, this seems a pejorative way to view matters and highly problematic in terms of the way in which health issues amongst clinicians are viewed by their patients and the public.”

We have campaigned tirelessly for regulatory reform and we welcome the government’s intention to prioritise this in the hope of seeing a modernised framework of regulations in place as soon as possible.

ENDS

The Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS) is a mutual organisation that protects the professional interests of more than 65,000 doctors and dentists across the United Kingdom, offering access to indemnity, support and legal advice.

For further information please contact Alison Hardie, Head of Public Affairs and Strategic Communications on ahardie@mddus.com