Regulating doctors, ensuring good medical practice

GMC statement - Stonewall's Gay & Bisexual Men's Health Survey

GMC Statement

27 Apr 2012

Responding to the Stonewall’s Gay & Bisexual Men’s Health Survey Niall Dickson, the Chief Executive of the General Medical Council said:

‘This survey highlights examples of poor treatment and care experienced by gay and bisexual men from doctors and other health professionals. Instances such as these are completely unacceptable.

‘Our core guidance, Good Medical Practice makes it absolutely clear that doctors must never discriminate unfairly against patients. Nor must they allow their personal views about their patient’s sexual orientation to prejudice their assessment of their clinical needs or delay or restrict their access to care.

‘In conjunction with Stonewall, we produced an information leaflet that explains to lesbian, gay and bisexual patients what they should expect from the doctor’s treating them and what to do they if they experience levels of care such as those detailed in the Stonewall survey’.

Notes to Editors:

The Stonewall/GMC information leaflet Protecting patients. Your rights as lesbian, gay and bisexual people can be found on our website.

For further information please contact the Media Relations Office on 020 7189 5454, out of hours 020 7189 5444/ 07920 461497, email press@gmc-uk.org, website www.gmc-uk.org.

The General Medical Council registers and licenses doctors to practise medicine in the UK. Our purpose is summed up in the phrase: Regulating doctors, Ensuring Good Medical Practice.

The law gives us four main functions:

  • keeping up-to-date registers of qualified doctors
  • fostering good medical practice
  • promoting high standards of medical education and training
  • dealing firmly and fairly with doctors whose fitness to practise is in doubt