Updating guidance on reporting convictions, conflicts of interest and prescribing

18 September 2008

The GMC has updated the guidance it gives on prescribing, conflicts of interests and reporting criminal and regulatory proceedings.

The guidance has been revised and updated in light of issues which have been raised with us by doctors, employers, patients and others and is part of our rolling review of all our ethical guidance to make sure it is up to date and fit for purpose.

The main changes to Reporting criminal and regulatory proceedings within and outside the UK clarify doctors’ obligations to tell us about fixed penalty notices for offences such as shoplifting, criminal damage and threatening behaviour. There is also a new duty on doctors to tell us if they receive a warning for the possession of cannabis or an anti-social behaviour order.

We have amended the guidance on Good practice in prescribing medicines to address concerns raised about the inappropriate supply and administration of Botox® and other medicines, particularly when this is done in the absence of a doctor, but whose GMC number might be used to obtain the medicines or who might prescribe or direct administration.

Finally, we have made a number of changes to the advice in Conflicts of interest in response to doctors’ and various public and medical bodies’ requests for additional guidance on a number of issues, including Practice Based Commissioning, doctors’ relationships with the pharmaceutical industry and target payments for preventative health measures and health monitoring.

Read the revised guidance

Read the press release