On your best behaviour: new guidance for medical students

New guidance launched today outlines the professional behaviour and values expected of UK medical students.

GMC guidance launched today outlines the professional behaviour and values expected of UK medical students. Medical Students: professional values and fitness to practise is available at www.gmc-uk.org.

As well as advising students on professional conduct it also advises medical schools on how to develop consistent procedures for dealing with students when their fitness to practise is called into question.

The guidance stresses that student fitness to practise is not about preventing trainee doctors relaxing or having fun, rather it is about creating a safe environment for patients and promoting professional standards. It suggests ways that students can positively demonstrate they are fit to practise, including:

• Making sure that patients have consented to a student being involved in their care
• Not discussing a patient’s case in public or identifying the patient in academic work
• Maintaining a professional boundary between themselves and their patients
• Being honest and original in their academic work and bringing attention to any errors in their clinical work.  

For the first time, the guidance recognises that poor health can have an impact on medical students’ performance and fitness to practise. This guidance outlines what action should be taken when this is a risk. It says that:

• Students should be aware that their own health problems may put patients and colleagues at risk
• Students should be registered with a GP
• Medical schools must provide students with the opportunity to seek support before poor health becomes a fitness to practise concern. 

Professor Jim McKillop, Chair of the GMC’s Undergraduate Board said:

“Concerns may be raised about a student’s fitness to practise because of conduct or ill health, though these are very separate issues. Most students with health problems or a disability will not raise concerns about fitness to practise so long as they recognise any limitations that their condition may impose and reasonable adjustments are made for them. We hope that this guidance will help medical schools, students and prospective students understand what is expected of them.”

A poster promoting the guidance to students is being issued to all UK medical schools to display. The GMC consulted with student and patient advisory bodies, disability organisations, occupational health specialists, Fitness to Practise Health Assessors, groups for medical practitioners involved in education, NHS employers, medical schools and postgraduate deaneries.