Sarah HOWARD-KNIGHT

On two occasions, in October 2023 and August 2024, Dr Howard-Knight prescribed various medications for herself. On four occasions between 14 July 2023 and 18 November 2024 she prescribed medications for a person with whom she held a close personal relationship. This behaviour does not meet with the standards required of a doctor. It risks bringing the profession into disrepute and it must not be repeated. The required standards are set out in Good medical practice and associated guidance. In this case, paragraph 97 of Good medical practice is particularly relevant: 97 You must, wherever possible, avoid providing medical care to yourself or anyone with whom you have a close personal relationship. You must follow our more detailed guidance on Good practice in proposing, prescribing, providing and managing medicines and devices. and with the guidance provided in Good practice in proposing, prescribing, providing and managing medicines and devices (2021) paragraphs 66, 67, and 68: 66 Wherever possible, you must avoid prescribing for yourself or anyone you have a close personal relationship with. 67 If you prescribe any medicine for yourself or someone close to you, you must: a. make a clear record at the same time or as soon as possible afterwards; the record should include your relationship to the patient, where relevant, and the reason it was necessary for you to prescribe b. follow the advice on information sharing and safe prescribing in paragraphs 26 to 32 and 52 to 57. 68 You must not prescribe controlled drugs for yourself or someone close to you unless: a. no other person with the legal right to prescribe is available to assess and prescribe without a delay b. emergency treatment is immediately necessary to avoid serious deterioration in health or serious harm. Whilst this failing in itself is not so serious as to require any restriction on Dr Howard-Knight’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/disclosure policy.