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Voluntary erasure – page 3 of 7

Legislation

When you apply for voluntary erasure from the medical register you are required to provide certain information before your application can be granted. The legislation that applies is The General Medical Council (Voluntary Erasure and Restoration following Voluntary Erasure) Regulations Order of Council 2004 (opens in a new window).

We recognise that most doctors relinquish their registration for a variety of perfectly good reasons. However, we have to address the possibility that a doctor might take the option of voluntary erasure simply to evade an investigation under our fitness to practise procedures.

That is why the 2004 Order requires all applicants for voluntary erasure to submit a statement that they themselves are unaware of any matters that might lead to an investigation of their fitness to practise, and a similar statement from their current or most recent employer. The objective is to help us fulfil our purpose as a regulator: to protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the public.