Endnotes

Colleagues include anyone a doctor works with, whether or not they are also doctors.

You can find all the explanatory guidance on our website.

Leadership and management for all doctors (2012) GMC, London

Good practice in research (2010) GMC, London

Developing teachers and trainers in undergraduate medical education (2011) GMC, London

Continuing professional development: guidance for all doctors (2012) GMC, London

This paragraph was added on 29 April 2014. Section 35C(2)(da) of the Medical Act 1983, inserted by the Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) (Knowledge of English) Order 2014.

Delegation and referral (2013) GMC, London

Good practice in prescribing and managing medicines and devices (2013) GMC, London

Treatment and care towards the end of life: good practice in decision making (2010), GMC, London

Making and using visual and audio recordings of patients (2011) GMC, London

Consent to research (2013) GMC, London

Follow the guidance in paragraph 23c if the risk arises from an adverse incident involving a medical device.

Confidentiality: good practice in handling patient information (2017) GMC, London

Raising and acting on concerns about patient safety (2012) GMC, London

Maintaining boundaries (2013) GMC, London

• Intimate examinations and chaperones (paragraphs 47, 25c)
• Maintaining a professional boundary between you and your patient (paragraph 53)
• Sexual behaviour and your duty to report (paragraphs 53, 25c)

Some patients are likely to be more vulnerable than others because of their illness, disability or frailty or because of their current circumstances, such as bereavement or redundancy. You should treat children and young people under 18 years as vulnerable. Vulnerability can be temporary or permanent.

0–18 years: guidance for all doctors (2007) GMC, London

Protecting children and young people: the responsibilities of all doctors (2012) GMC, London

Patients here includes those people with the legal authority to make healthcare decisions on a patient’s behalf.

Consent: patients and doctors making decisions together (2008) GMC, London

Writing references (2012) GMC, London

Personal beliefs and medical practice (2013) GMC, London

This includes your views about a patient’s or colleague’s lifestyle, culture or their social or economic status, as well as the characteristics protected by legislation: age, disability, gender reassignment, race, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

‘Reasonable adjustments’ does not only mean changes to the physical environment. It can include, for example. Being flexible about appointment time or length, and making arrangements for those with communication difficulties such as impaired hearing. For more information see the EHRC website.

Ending your professional relationship with a patient (2013) GMC, London

Doctors’ use of social media (2013) GMC, London

Acting as a witness in legal proceedings (2013) GMC, London

Reporting criminal and regulatory proceedings within and outside the UK (2013) GMC, London

Financial and commercial arrangements and conflicts of interest (2013) GMC, London