Sanctions guidance (information for lawyers and others)
This page provides information on the guidance that the GMC Fitness to Practise panels use to help them reach their decisions. Please note this guidance is published on the website mainly for the benefit of lawyers and medical defence organisations who are familiar with our processes.
The Indicative Sanctions Guidance was last revised in 2005, to take account of the reformed fitness to practise procedures introduced in November 2004. In October 2007, we produced supplementary guidance on the factors panels should take into account when considering cases of doctors who were, but are no longer, required to register as sex offenders. Click here to view supplementary guidance (28kb, 
pdf).
The Indicative Sanctions Guidance for Fitness to Practise Panels (April 2005) includes guidance on impaired fitness to practise as well as aspects of the new Rules such as:
- Undertakings
- warnings and
- immediate conditions
none of which were available to Panels under the previous procedures. It also includes guidance on making referrals to the Postgraduate Deans and General Practice Directors for educational intervention.
Indicative sanctions guidance consultation
We are currently consulting on proposed changes to the Indicative Sanctions Guidance. Click here to view the consultation document (38kb, pdf) and the draft revised Guidance (211kb, pdf). Responses to the consultation can be made by e-mail to isgconsultation@gmc-uk.org. The consultation period continues until 9 May 2008.
Download the relevant documents
The following additional guidance is also available to fitness to practise panels at hearings.
- Glossary of terms used in our Conditions and Undertakings Banks (60kb, pdf)
- Guidance on the use of clinical attachments (45kb, pdf)
- Guidance for making referrals to the Postgraduate Dean or GP Director (55kb, pdf)
- Undertakings at Fitness to Practise Panel Hearings (59kb, pdf)
- Undertakings Bank (129kb, pdf)
- Fitness to Practise Panel Conditions Bank (146kb, pdf)
- Interim Orders Panel Conditions Bank (107kb, pdf)
- Guidance on voluntary erasure (38kb, pdf)
- Medical training career structure (58kb, pdf)
- Imposing Interim Orders – Guidance for the Interim Orders Panel and the Fitness to Practise Panel (108kb, pdf)
Click here to view the guidance we provide to our decision-makers at the investigation stage.
