Christopher Brett VALENTINE

On 7 December 2022 Dr Valentine arranged for a chaperone to observe his consultations with two patients from an adjoining room without informing either of the patients concerned about the chaperone’s presence or obtaining their consent. This behaviour did not meet with the standards required of a doctor. It risked bringing the profession into disrepute and it must not be repeated. The required standards were, as of 7 December 2022, set out in Good medical practice (2013) and associated guidance. In this case, paragraphs 17, 32, 47 and 65 of Good medical practice were particularly relevant: 17. You must be satisfied that you have consent or other valid authority before you carry out any examination or investigation, provide treatment or involve patients or volunteers in teaching or research. 32. You must give patients the information they want or need to know in a way they can understand. You should make sure that arrangements are made, wherever possible, to meet patients’ language and communication needs. 47. You must treat patients as individuals and respect their dignity and privacy. 65. You must make sure that your conduct justifies your patients’ trust in you and the public’s trust in the profession. The current guidance set out in Good medical practice (2024) states that: 16. You must recognise and respect every patient’s dignity and right to privacy. 25. 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. If relevant to your practice, you must also follow our guidance on Making and using visual and audio recordings of patients. 28. The exchange of information between medical professionals and patients is central to good decision making. You must give patients the information they want or need in a way they can understand.

81. You must make sure that your conduct justifies patients’ trust in you and the public’s trust in your profession. Whilst this failure in itself was not so serious as to require any restriction on Dr Valentine's registration, it is necessary in response to issue this formal warning. This warning will be published on the medical register in line with our publication and disclosure policy, which can be found at www.gmc-uk.org/disclosurepolicy.

1. He must notify the GMC promptly of any post he accepts for which registration with the GMC is required and provide the GMC with the contact details of his employer.

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2. At any time that he is providing medical services which require him to be registered with the GMC, he must agree to the appointment of a workplace reporter nominated by his employer, or contracting body, and approved by the GMC.

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3. He must allow the GMC to exchange information with his employer or any contracting body for which he provides medical services.

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4. He must inform the GMC of any formal disciplinary proceedings taken against him, from the date of this determination.

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5. He must inform the GMC if he applies for medical employment outside the UK.

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6. He must work with his responsible officer (or his/her nominated deputy), to formulate a Personal Development Plan, specifically designed to address the deficiencies in the following areas of practice:

a. use of appropriate devices and procedures for clinical photography

b. obtaining informed written patient consent for clinical photography

c. recording the nature and purpose of clinical photography and patient consent in clinical records

d. storage of clinical photographs

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7. He must forward a copy of his Personal Development Plan to the GMC within three months of the date on which these conditions become effective or the date on which he commences relevant employment, whichever is sooner.

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8. He must meet with his responsible officer (or his/her nominated deputy), on a regular basis to discuss his progress towards achieving the aims set out in his Personal Development Plan. The frequency of his meetings is to be set by his responsible officer (or his/her nominated deputy).

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9. He must allow the GMC to exchange information about the standard of his professional performance and his progress towards achieving the aims set out in his Personal Development Plan with his responsible officer (or his/her nominated deputy).

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10. He must inform the following parties that his registration is subject to the conditions listed at (1) to (9) above:

a. Any organisation or person employing or contracting with him to undertake medical work;

b. Any locum agency or out-of-hours service with which he is registered or applies to be registered (at the time of application);

c. In the case of locum appointments, his immediate line manager at his place of work (at least 24 hours before starting work);

d. Any prospective employer or contracting body (at the time of application).

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