Professional standards in action

Test your knowledge of our professional standards and see what you would do in front-line scenarios doctors face in UK practice.

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Scenario themes

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Good medical practice (8)
Assessing and diagnosing someone who has profound and multiple learning disabilities
A doctor needs to examine a non-verbal patient in pain who may not have the capacity to consent. By completing the case study, doctors can reflect on assessing a patient’s capacity to decide, making decisions when a patient lacks capacity, and the role of family members in decision-making.
Patient asking for alternative medication
A doctor discusses safe prescribing and shared decision-making when a patient asks for an unlicensed medicine. By completing the case study, doctors will consider how to manage patient requests for medication and support ongoing care.
Police request list of patients to assist with an assault case
A doctor must decide how to respond when police request patient details from the clinic without a court order. By completing the case study, doctors can reflect on how to respond proportionately, seek clarity, and ensure that any decision to share information is in line with guidance.
Listening to concerns from a patient's family member
A doctor must decide how to respond when a family member raises concerns about a patient’s health and safety. By completing the case study, doctors can reflect on assessing risk, clear communication, and the balance between confidentiality and public safety, in line with guidance.
Assessing a patient's fitness to drive
A doctor must decide how to respond when a patient continues to drive despite medical advice to stop. By completing the case study, doctors can reflect on assessing risk, communicating clearly, and balancing confidentiality with public safety in line with guidance.
A colleague's underperformance
A doctor must decide how to respond when concerns are raised about a colleague’s fitness to practise. By completing the case study, doctors can reflect on how to prioritise patient safety, seek appropriate advice, and support a colleague in line with professional guidance.
Assessing a patient's capacity
A doctor must decide how to proceed when a patient with Alzheimer’s disease appears to refuse further investigation. By completing the case study, doctors can reflect on assessing capacity, involving family members, and supporting patient-centred decision making in line with guidance.
Making decisions when a patient lacks capacity
A doctor must support a patient with Alzheimer’s disease to think ahead about future care while they still have capacity. By completing the case study, doctors can reflect on advance care planning, involving family members, and supporting informed decision making in line with guidance.
Prescribing (1)
Patient asking for alternative medication
A doctor discusses safe prescribing and shared decision-making when a patient asks for an unlicensed medicine. By completing the case study, doctors will consider how to manage patient requests for medication and support ongoing care.
Confidentiality (3)
Police request list of patients to assist with an assault case
A doctor must decide how to respond when police request patient details from the clinic without a court order. By completing the case study, doctors can reflect on how to respond proportionately, seek clarity, and ensure that any decision to share information is in line with guidance.
Assessing a patient's fitness to drive
A doctor must decide how to respond when a patient continues to drive despite medical advice to stop. By completing the case study, doctors can reflect on assessing risk, communicating clearly, and balancing confidentiality with public safety in line with guidance.
Listening to concerns from a patient's family member
A doctor must decide how to respond when a family member raises concerns about a patient’s health and safety. By completing the case study, doctors can reflect on assessing risk, clear communication, and the balance between confidentiality and public safety, in line with guidance.
Concerns about patient safety (1)
A colleague's underperformance
A doctor must decide how to respond when concerns are raised about a colleague’s fitness to practise. By completing the case study, doctors can reflect on how to prioritise patient safety, seek appropriate advice, and support a colleague in line with professional guidance.
Decision making and consent (3)
Assessing a patient's capacity
A doctor must decide how to proceed when a patient with Alzheimer’s disease appears to refuse further investigation. By completing the case study, doctors can reflect on assessing capacity, involving family members, and supporting patient-centred decision making in line with guidance.
Making decisions when a patient lacks capacity
A doctor must support a patient with Alzheimer’s disease to think ahead about future care while they still have capacity. By completing the case study, doctors can reflect on advance care planning, involving family members, and supporting informed decision making in line with guidance.
Assessing and diagnosing someone who has profound and multiple learning disabilities
A doctor needs to examine a non-verbal patient in pain who may not have the capacity to consent. By completing the case study, doctors can reflect on assessing a patient’s capacity to decide, making decisions when a patient lacks capacity, and the role of family members in decision-making.