Fitness to Practise (Concerns about doctors) legislation

Investigation and adjudication

Fitness to Practise Rules 2004

The Medical Act gives the GMC powers and responsibilities for taking action when questions arise about doctors’ fitness to practise.

The detailed arrangements for how these matters are investigated and adjudicated upon are set out in rules. These rules have the force of law.

View the General Medical Council (Fitness to Practise) Rules Order of Council 2004 (151kb pdf)

Guidance to Fitness to practise Rules 2004

We have provided some guidance to accompany these rules. The guidance has no legal authority. It is, however, intended to provide an overview of the procedures and how they operate.

View the Guidance to accompany the General Medical Council (Fitness to Practise) Rules Order of Council 2004 (91kb pdf)

Panels and Committees

Some complaints and information received by the GMC are referred for consideration by a committee or by a panel. The arrangements for the composition of the committee or panel are described in statutory rules. These rules also cover the composition of Registration Appeals Panels (Registration Appeals Panels 91kb, pdf)

View the General Medical Council (Constitution of Panels and Investigation Committee) Rules Order of Council 2004 (OPSI website) (opens in a new window).

Slight modifications to the 2004 rules were made in 2005. The changes are shown in the 2005 amendment rules below:

View the General Medical Council (Constitution of Panels and Investigation Committee) Rules Order of Council 2005 (OPSI website) (opens in a new window).

Legal Assessor rules

The panels and committees that consider matters relating to doctors’ fitness to practise are accompanied by a senior lawyer, known as a Legal Assessor.

The job of the Legal Assessor is to advise the committee or panel on points of law. The role and functions of the Legal Assessor are set out in rules:
The General Medical Council (Legal Assessor) Rules 2004 (OPSI website) (opens in a new window).

Decisions by other regulatory bodies

If a doctor is disqualified from practice in another European State, this may affect his or her registration in the UK. The Medical Act provides for rules to be made covering the procedures for handling such cases.

View the General Medical Council (Fitness to Practise) (Disqualifying Decisions and Determinations by Regulatory Bodies) Procedure Rules Order of Council 2004 (OPSI website) (opens in a new window).