Adjudication
This page provides information about the Adjudication process.
Contents
Introduction
After a complaint is received about a doctor and preliminary enquiries have been carried out, the GMC decides whether to refer the doctor to a Fitness to Practise panel. The GMC will consider both the seriousness of the allegations and the likelihood of being able to prove the case at a hearing.
If the case examiners or the Investigation Committee are satisfied that there is a realistic prospect of establishing that the doctor’s fitness to practise is impaired, the doctor will appear before a Fitness to Practise Panel.
Sometimes, if the GMC believes it is necessary, we ask the doctor to appear before an Interim Orders Panel, which has the power to suspend or impose conditions on the doctor’s registration while questions about the doctor’s fitness to practise are resolved.
Who makes the decisions in the Adjudication process?
Medical and lay panellists appointed to sit on the Interim Orders Panel and the Fitness to Practise Panel.
The panellists are independent, but are required to take account of the Council’s policy and guidance.
Interim Orders Panel
The Interim Orders Panel considers whether a doctor’s registration should be restricted, either by suspension or by imposing conditions on their registration, while questions about the doctor’s fitness to practise are resolved.
This ensures that we can take action to protect patients while we carry out our enquiries into the doctor’s fitness to practise.
The Interim Orders Panel meets in private, unless the doctor requests a public hearing.
Read more about the Interim Orders Panel.
The Fitness to Practise Panel
The Fitness to Practise Panel hears evidence and decides whether a doctor's fitness to practise is impaired. Fitness to Practise Panel hearings are the final stage of our procedures.
If the Panel concludes that a doctor's fitness to practise is impaired it may:
- take no action
- accept undertakings offered by the doctor provided the panel is satisfied that such undertakings protect patients and the wider public interest
- place conditions on the doctor's registration
- suspend the doctor's registration
- erase the doctor's name from the Medical Register , so that they can no longer practise.
If a panel concludes that the doctor's fitness to practise is not impaired, it may issue a warning to the doctor.
The Fitness to Practise Panel meets in public, except when considering evidence relating to a doctor's health.
Read more about the Fitness to Practise Panel.
Arranging Fitness to Practise Panel Hearings
The GMC has a procedure designed to facilitate the effective listing of Fitness to Practise Hearings.
Download Pre-hearing Case Management procedure (156kb, 
pdf)
Managing Fitness to Practise Panel Hearings
The GMC has published guidance to panel chairmen on the effective management of Fitness to Practise Panel hearings. The information may also be of interest to others, particularly parties to the proceedings.
Download guidance (156kb, pdf)
Panellists' interests
Panellists are appointed to make decisions in line with the GMC's role, which is both to protect patients and to act in the wider public interest.
In making decisions on cases, they act as individuals, not as representatives of other organisations.
Fitness to Practise Bulletin
The GMC publishes a Fitness to Practise Bulletin several times a year, which is targeted at all Fitness to Practise panellists.
The Bulletin provides information about developments affecting the work of the panels and issues arising from it.
That information may also be of interest to others.
With effect from the April 2007 issue, copies are available to download in this section of the website.
Download the Panellists' bulletins
- Panellists bulletin April 2007 (142kb, pdf)
