Children and young people - development of the guidance

0-18 years: guidance for all doctors

The GMC has published new guidance that sets out doctors’ role and responsibilities towards children and young people. The guidance came into effect on 15 October 2007.

All doctors have a duty to safeguard and protect the health and well-being of children and young people.

0-18 years: guidance for all doctors provides advice on many of the sensitive and complex issues that doctors may face with dealing with children and young people.

It also provides links to sources of further information or guidance.

Read the guidance

Read the online version of 0-18 years: guidance for all doctors.

“KNOW UR RIGHTS AT THE DOCTORS” – poster launched January 2009

A poster informing young people of their rights when visiting a doctor was launched on 12 January 2009 as part of the process of implementing the guidance. The poster was designed by young people aged between 13 and 15 years, as part of a project commissioned by the General Medical Council and run by the National Children’s Bureau. Read a news release about the poster.

How the guidance was developed

0-18 years: guidance for all doctors has been produced following an extensive consultation process.

Read more about how the guidance was developed: The development of 0-18 years: guidance for all doctors (71kb, pdf).

Involving children and young people

Children and young people have been involved in the development of 0-18 years: guidance for all doctors in a variety of ways.

The front cover of the guidance booklet was designed by the winner of our poster competition, 13 year old Paul McAleenan.

Entrants to the competition were asked to design an image that illustrated what they felt about doctors or how they thought doctors should treat them.
Know your rights at the doctors