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April 2008

A communication from the General Medical Council
April 2008, Issue 44

What's New?

Civil standard of proof to be implemented on 31 May 2008
GMC to introduce licences to practise in 2009
Guidance review gets underway

Welcome to the April edition of the GMC e-bulletin

Please continue to send us your feedback, questions and ideas for topics you would like to see covered in future editions.

Civil standard of proof to be implemented on 31 May 2008

In 2007 the GMC consulted on a proposed addition to our Fitness to Practise Rules to introduce the civil standard of proof at Fitness to Practise panel hearings when panellists are making decisions on disputed facts.

We have now agreed, subject to a formal decision by the Privy Council, that the new rule will take effect on 31 May 2008 and the civil standard of proof will apply to all new Fitness to Practise panel hearings commencing on or after that date.

For details of the change, please see the Frequently Asked Questions factsheet on our website.

We are writing to individual doctors who are awaiting a Fitness to Practise Panel hearing, to explain the effect of the change on their case

GMC to introduce licences to practise in 2009

At the GMC Council meeting in April it was agreed that licences to practise will be introduced in the summer or autumn of 2009. Any doctor wishing to practise in the UK will need to hold a licence.

The introduction of the licence to practise will be a critical step in the development and implementation of revalidation. Licensing and revalidation, once fully implemented, will greatly strengthen the system of regulation, providing patients and employers with the assurance that their doctor continues to practise in accordance with the standards set by the GMC.

GMC President, Sir Graeme Catto, said:

“We have long sought to implement a system of licensing and revalidation for UK doctors and this is an important step forward. The GMC has proven itself to be an effective and efficient regulator and I am confident that we can deliver this ambitious project. We will keep doctors up to date with progress via our website and GMCtoday.”

Guidance review gets underway

The GMC is in the early stages of a review of our guidance on Withholding and Withdrawing Life Prolonging Treatments: Good Practice in Decision Making. Since it was issued in August 2002, there have been a number of legal and other developments that need to be reflected in the advice we give.

A working group has been formed to review the current guidance and produce a revised draft for consideration by the GMC’s Standards and Ethics Committee. The Group is chaired by Lady Christine Eames. It includes members from outside the GMC who together bring a variety of clinical and patient perspectives to the work; provide expertise on the ethical and legal considerations; and have good knowledge of the practical issues in delivering end of life care in different healthcare settings, across the UK.

We anticipate that new draft guidance will be issued for formal consultation towards the end of 2008.

If you would like to be sent information about the consultation nearer the time, or would like to know more about the background to the review, please email standards@gmc-uk.org.

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