About this consultation
We’re reviewing the Personal beliefs and medical practice (2013) guidance.
This guidance forms part of the more detailed guidance on the professional standards. It explains how doctors, physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs) can provide good, safe care and meet professional standards, while taking into account both their own personal beliefs and the beliefs of their patients.
The guidance focuses specifically on personal beliefs in professional practice. It doesn’t cover beliefs expressed outside work, or how we consider concerns that may be raised with us about them.
We last published it in 2013. Since then, we’ve made some technical updates – including in December 2024 to reflect the start of PA and AA regulation.
We’re carrying out an in-depth review to make sure the guidance:
- reflects developments across the UK’s healthcare systems and wider social changes
- remains relevant to a range of situations and operational environments.
We've developed the updated draft guidance through extensive research, engagement with stakeholders, and expert advice.
Why we wanted to hear from you
It’s vital that our Personal beliefs and medical practice guidance reflects the needs and experiences of everyone it affects.
We also wanted to understand how Personal beliefs and medical practice relates to the different geographies and environments where the professionals we regulate work.
We invited patients and those who support them, doctors, PAs, AAs, healthcare professionals and healthcare organisations from across the UK to share their views on the draft guidance.
We are now reviewing the feedback received. The responses will help us shape the final version of the guidance and support doctors, PAs and AAs to deliver good, safe patient care.
