22.08.14
Doctors who harm patients may face ‘tougher sanctions’
Doctors who have harmed patients could face tougher sanctions even if they can show they have subsequently improved their practice in serious cases, under plans being considered by the General Medical Council (GMC).
The proposals form part of a major GMC consultation on how doctors should be dealt with when serious complaints about them are upheld.
The GMC, which independently regulates doctors in the UK, is seeking views on several aspects of misconduct. These include imposing sanctions where doctors have made serious clinical errors – even where they have successfully retrained and improved their practice – if they failed to heed concerns and take steps to protect patients sooner.
GMC is also looking into whether panels should require doctors to apologise where they have previously failed to do so.
The regulator also wants to look into imposing more serious actions in cases where doctors fail to raise concerns about a colleague’s fitness to practice or take prompt action where patient’s basic needs have not been met.
If the proposals are put into place, doctors could face restrictions on their practice, suspension, or have their registration removed. This could occur if it is proved that they knew or should have known they were causing harm to patients in serious cases.
Niall Dickinson, chief executive of the GMC, said: “Doctors are among the most trusted professionals, and rightly so, and they deserve to be treated fairly.
“In the vast majority of cases one-off clinical errors do not merit any action by the GMC. But if we are to maintain that trust, in the small number of serious cases where doctors fail to listen to concerns and take action sooner to protect patients, they should be held to account for their actions.”
Responding to the announcement, Dr Helen Stokes-Lampard, RCGP honorary treasurer, said: “Patient safety is always of paramount importance and GPs work really hard to ensure that all patients receive the best possible care.
“GPs are the most trusted healthcare professionals in the NHS and share a unique relationship with their patients. Anything that further improves the care that we deliver to our patients - and the trust that they have in us should be welcomed.
“But it is essential that any action resulting from these proposals is taken in the best interests of patient safety and care and not used as an excuse to criticise doctors who are doing a very difficult job in increasingly difficult circumstances.”
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt added that after the tragic failings at Mid Staffs [hospital], “we are taking steps to improve patient safety and ensure doctors are held to account for poor care”.
The consultation, which includes events for patient groups and doctors, will run until 14 November. The GMC will publish the outcome in 2015.
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