Note: The GMC issues guidance to doctors on the standards of conduct and ethics expected of them by patients, the public and the profession. It regularly reviews its ethical guidance to ensure that it is up to date and fit for purpose. The GMC is reviewing its guidance for doctors, Good Medical Practice (2006). Good Medical Practice expresses the values of the profession and helps doctors to provide good care for patients. It is also used as a foundation for appraisal and revalidation, and for assessing doctors’ fitness to practise. The GMC is seeking comments on the scope and structure of the guidance and asking for views on the issues that it should consider when conducting the review.
Background: The GMC reviews the guidance regularly to make sure that it is up to date and relevant for all doctors working today and reflects patients’ views of good practice. Good Medical Practice was last reviewed in 2005/6.
This review is being undertaken at a time of major change in the delivery of healthcare, and the role and functions of the GMC itself. During the review, the GMC will be seeking views and ideas as it considers each section of the guidance. The GMC is starting the review with this short questionnaire to help set the direction and focus of our work.
Purpose: Before proposing any changes to Good Medical Practice, the GMC wants to understand the issues of importance to those who use the guidance in their work, and those on whom it has an impact, including doctors and patients. The questions are based on issues raised with the GMC since Good Medical Practice was published in 2006.
The GMC hopes that the many organisations and individuals who use Good Medical Practice will use this opportunity to tell the GMC how it could make the guidance more relevant to its work or more useful in format or structure.
A full consultation on revised guidance will be issued in October 2011. Throughout the project, the GMC will also be seeking views on individual issues and reporting on the progress of the review.
