About our Protecting children and young people guidance
All children and young people1 are entitled to protection from abuse and neglect. Good medical practice2 places a duty on all doctors to protect and promote the health and well-being of children and young people. This means all doctors must act on any concerns they have about the safety or welfare of a child or young person.
Child protection is a difficult area of practice that can involve making decisions that are emotionally challenging, complicated by uncertainty and sometimes go against the wishes of parents.3 Doctors should work with parents and families, where possible, to make sure that children and young people receive the care and support they need. But in cases where the interests and wishes of parents may put the safety of the child or young person at risk, doctors must put the interests of the child or young person first.4 Failure to act when a child or young person is at risk can have serious consequences for both the child and their family.
This guidance aims to help doctors to protect children and young people who are living with their families or living away from home, including those being looked after by a local authority.
In this guidance ‘abuse or neglect’ means physical, emotional or sexual abuse, including fabricated or induced illness, and emotional or physical neglect, which has led, or may lead, to significant harm to a child or young person. 5 6 7
All doctors have a duty to keep up to date with, and follow, the relevant laws, codes of practice and guidance, including our advice in Good medical practice2 and 0–18 years: guidance for all doctors8 and our guidance on Confidentiality: good practice in handling patient information9 and consent.10 These booklets provide more advice on assessing capacity, and making decisions about treatment relating to the health of children and young people.
In this guidance, the terms ‘you must’ and ‘you should’ are used in the following ways.
- ‘You must’ is used for an overriding duty or principle.
- ‘You should’ is used when we are explaining how to meet the overriding duty.
- ‘You should’ is also used where the duty or principle will not apply in all situations or circumstances, or where there are factors outside a doctor’s control that affect whether or how a doctor can follow this guidance.
It is vital that all doctors have the confidence to act if they believe that a child or young person may be being abused or neglected. Taking action will be justified, even if it turns out that the child or young person is not at risk of, or suffering, abuse or neglect, as long as the concerns are honestly held and reasonable, and the doctor takes action through appropriate channels. Doctors who make decisions based on the principles in this guidance will be able to justify their decisions and actions if we receive a complaint about their practice.11
This guidance is concerned with children and young people from birth until their 18th birthday (see the definitions of children, young people and parents of this guidance).
General Medical Council (2013) Good medical practice London, General Medical Council, paragraphs 27.
References to ‘parents’ in this guidance include people who care for or look after children or young people. This might include carers, other family members or adults who live in the same household (see the definitions of ‘children’, ‘young people’ and ‘parents’ of this guidance).
See JD v East Berkshire Community Health Trust & Ors [2005] UKHL 23 (21 April 2005) paragraphs 85, 87.
Department for Children, Schools and Families (2010) Working together to safeguard children: a guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children Nottingham, HM Government.
The Scottish Government (2010) National guidance for child protection in Scotland 2010 Edinburgh, The Scottish Government.
Area Child Protection Committees (2005) Regional child protection policy and procedures area Child Protection Committees.
General Medical Council (2013) Good medical practice London, General Medical Council, paragraphs 27.
General Medical Council (2007) 0–18 years: guidance for all doctors London, General Medical Council.
General Medical Council (2017) Confidentiality: good practice in handling patient information London, General Medical Council.
General Medical Council (2020) Decision making and consent, London, General Medical Council.
You must use your professional judgement to apply this and our other guidance to your practice. If you do this, act in good faith and in the interests of patients, you will be able to explain and justify your decisions and actions. Only serious or persistent failure to follow our guidance that poses a risk to patient safety or public trust in doctors will put your registration at risk.
