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Reporting criminal and regulatory proceedings within and outside the UK

November 2006

1. In our core guidance for doctors, Good Medical Practice we advise that:

  • You must inform the GMC without delay if, anywhere in the world, you have accepted a caution, been charged with or found guilty of a criminal offence, or if another professional body has made a finding against your registration as a result of fitness to practise procedures. 1

This supplementary guidance is intended to provide more detail about how to comply with this duty.

2. It is important that the GMC takes prompt and appropriate action to protect patients when a doctor's fitness to practise is in question. Police forces inform the GMC when a doctor is charged with an offence, cautioned or convicted of a criminal offence. Doctors are also required to inform the GMC directly.

3. You must inform the GMC without delay if you are the subject of criminal proceedings anywhere in the world.

4. For the purpose of this guidance, criminal proceedings arise where you:

  • accept a police caution (or, in Scotland, a fiscal fine)
  • are charged with a criminal offence
  • are convicted of a criminal offence.

This does not include road traffic offences where you accept the option of paying a fixed penalty notice.

5. Similarly, you must report to the GMC without delay if you have had your registration restricted, or have been found guilty of an offence by another professional regulatory body, in the UK or elsewhere in the world.

6. This duty does not change the circumstances in which the GMC will investigate a doctor's conduct, nor the threshold for taking action on registration.

7. If you are unsure whether or not to inform the GMC about any criminal proceedings or findings of another professional regulatory body, you should seek advice from a defence body, medical association or from the GMC Standards and Ethics team 2.

8. You may also have an obligation to inform other organisations, such as your employer or contracting body about any criminal proceedings or findings of another regulatory body. If you are unsure about whether, or who, you need to inform, you should seek advice from a defence body or medical association.

9. This guidance comes into effect on 13 November 2006 and applies to criminal and regulatory proceedings incurred on or after that date.

 

1 Good Medical Practice paragraph 58

2 See GMC guidance on convictions, cautions and determinations (see ‘Concerns about doctors').