David Oliver: Let’s use the GMC’s Good Medical Practice for an “I’m Spartacus” moment

On 22 August the General Medical Council (GMC) published its updated and expanded Good Medical Practice guidance for doctors, after extensive consultation.1 The initial reaction largely centred on the explicit duty of “kindness” placed on doctors—what it meant and how it could be regulated. For me, however, the most important paragraphs lie elsewhere, in the section “Responding to safety risks.”Paragraph 75 says that doctors “must raise their concern” if patients are at risk from “inadequate premises, equipment or other resources, policies or systems.” Paragraph 76 says that doctors in formal management and leadership roles “must take active steps to create an environment in which people can talk about errors and concerns safely. This includes making sure that any concerns raised with you are dealt with promptly and adequately.”The word “must” is important here because, as the GMC states, this means a “legal or ethical duty you’re expected to meet (or…
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