Annex A - Extracts from Good medical practice
Domain 1: Knowledge, skills and development
Introduction
Medical practice is a lifelong journey. Keeping pace with rapidly changing social, legal and technological developments means learning new skills while maintaining others. Sharing knowledge – gained through research and innovation, as well as experience – is fundamental to being a medical professional.
Good medical professionals are competent, keep their knowledge and skills up to date and provide a good standard of practice and care. They strive to develop and improve their professional performance. They reflect regularly on their standards of practice and use feedback and evidence to develop personal and professional insight.
Being competent
You must be competent in all aspects of your work including, where applicable, formal leadership or management roles, research and teaching.
Considering research opportunities
Research is vital in improving our understanding of health conditions, and increasing the availability of options for effective prevention, treatment, and care. You should consider opportunities to conduct or participate in research that may benefit current and/or future patients, and help to improve the health of the population. You should tell patients if you’re aware of opportunities for them to participate in appropriate research.
Domain 2: Patients, partnership and communication
Supporting patients to make decisions about treatment and care
You must be satisfied that you have consent or other valid authority before examining or treating patients, or involving patients or volunteers in teaching or research. More detail about this is given in our guidance on Decision making and consent which you must follow.
Domain 4: Trust and professionalism
Acting with honesty and integrity in research
When designing, organising or carrying out research, you must put the interests of participants first. You must act with honesty and integrity, and follow national research governance guidelines and our more detailed guidance on Good practice in research.
