Duties of a Doctor

Question 1

What are the 5 main duties of a doctor?

Answer 1

1. Make the care of your patient your first concern
2. Protect and promote the health of patients and the public
3. Treat patients as individuals and respect their dignity
4. Work in partnership with patients
5. Be honest and open and act with integrity

Question 2

When the GMC says: “Protect and promote the health of patients and the public”, what points do the GMC make about this?

Answer 2

• Provide a good standard of practice and care
• Keep your professional knowledge and skills up to date
• Recognise and work within the limits of your competence
• Work with colleagues in the ways that best serve patients’ interests

Question 3

When the GMC says “Work in partnership with patients”, what points do they then advise?

Answer 3

• Listen to patients and respond to their concerns and preferences
• Give patients the information they want or need in a way they can understand
• Respect patients’ right to reach decisions with you about their treatment and care
• Support patients in caring for themselves to improve and maintain their health

Question 4

When the GMC says, “Be honest and open and act with integrity”, what points do they then go on to make?

Answer 4

• Act without delay if you have good reason to believe that you or a colleague may be putting patients at risk
• Never discriminate unfairly against patients or colleagues
• Never abuse your patients’ trust in you or the public’s trust in the profession.