General Medical Council seeks views on guidance for dealing with complaints about assisting suicide.

The General Medical Council is seeking views on guidance for its decision makers when they are considering allegations about a doctor’s involvement in encouraging or assisting suicide.

The guidance will help those who make decisions at the investigation stage (Case Examiners) to make clear and consistent decisions about how the GMC should respond to allegations against doctors, and whether the case should be referred to a Fitness to Practise hearing.

Niall Dickson, the Chief Executive of the General Medical Council said:

‘This is a complex and sensitive issue. Nothing in the draft guidance changes the law on assisting suicide; neither should it be taken to imply that the GMC supports or opposes a change in that law. Encouraging or assisting suicide remains a criminal offence and the guidance reflects the law on the subject.

‘We recognise that there are a range of actions which would contravene the Suicide Act – from providing information to a patient to helping someone to travel to Dignitas. Some of these actions may not lead to criminal charges, but may still lead to complaints about a doctor’s fitness to practise.

‘We do think our decision makers will find it useful to have guidance about the factors they should consider when dealing with an allegation that a doctor has assisted a person to commit suicide. Doctors, patients and others may also find it helpful if we set out clearly how we will consider complaints in this area.

‘The consultation is open to anyone who wishes to respond and we are particularly keen to hear from those who are, or have been, affected by these issues.’

When the Investigation Committee or Case Examiners consider an allegation they must decide whether there is a realistic prospect of establishing that a doctor’s fitness to practise is impaired to a degree that justifies action against their registration. The draft guidance sets out some of the things doctors might be alleged to have done in order to encourage or assist a suicide and the factors that should be considered in deciding whether the allegations should be referred to a fitness to practise panel.

The guidance is being produced to ensure that people considering seeking assistance from doctors and doctors themselves understand the likely impact of such assistance on the doctor concerned. A working group of GMC Council members also considered the issues and agreed that it was practical and desirable to have guidance for internal decision makers.

Read more information about the consultation.