Good Medical Practice

Question 1

What are the 4 domains of GMCs good medical practice

Answer 1

1. Knowledge, Skills and Performance
2. Safety and Quality
3. Communication, Partnership and Teamwork
4. Maintaining Trust

Question 2

For Domain 1: Knowledge Skills and Performance, what is required of Doctors in order to develop and maintain professional performance

Answer 2

You must be competent in ALL aspects of work, and steps should be taken to regularly maintain these competencies

You should be willing to find and take part in structured support opportunities whenever you join an organisation or change roles significantly

You must also be familiar with guidelines, and keep up to date all regulations relevant to work

You must also attempt to regulate the quality of your work when you can

Question 3

For Domain 1: Knowledge Skills and Performance, what is required of doctors when applying their knowledge/skills in practice

Answer 3

You must be aware of your own skills and competencies and work within them - including speaking english to a responsible level

When assessing/diagnosing/treating patients you must take into account any psychological, spiritual, social and cultural factor

Question 4

What are Some considerations when prescribing drugs

Answer 4

you must have a full understanding of the entire picture of the patient and must be satisfied that the drugs will help

be sure that the treatment is the best available

ensure you are taking steps to alleviate stress/pain when a cure isnt possible

consult colleagues whenever possible

ensure that the treatment is compatible with prescribed and OTC treatment the patient is taking

you should avoid prescribing for any close friends or family - including yourself

Question 5

For Domain 1: Knowledge Skills and Performance, what is required of doctors when documenting information

Answer 5

Any documentation must be clearly legible and accurate

you should endevour to write clinical documents at the closest possible time to the event - ideally during

you must keep within all data protection guidelines

clinical records should include: 
relevant clinical findings 
decisions made and actions agreed
info given to patients 
drugs/investigations/treatments reccomended
who is making the record and when

Question 6

For Domain 2: Safety and Quality, what is required of doctors to contribute and comply with systems to protect patients

Answer 6

take part in any assessments/audits of your team, respond to any problems identifed and if required carry out further training. this should be followed up with regular reflection on your own work and patient feedback should be taken into account

doctors should contribute to: adverse event recognition, confidential enquiries, ADRs, public health enquiries - whilst maintaining confidentiality

Question 7

For Domain 2: Safety and Quality, what is required of doctors to respond to safety risks

Answer 7

an environment that encourages staff to be able to bring forward safety concerns should be fostered at all times

prompt action must be taken if there is suspicion patient safety is compromised, including: inadequate/insufficient medical equipment, a doctor is not fit to practice or if the patient needs arent being met

help should be given in the community, giving thought to personal competency, safety and the availability of other help

when a patient is identified as vulnerable, there should be extra care taken to identify any forms of abuse

Question 8

For Domain 2: Safety and Quality, what is required of doctors when considering risks to their own health

Answer 8

all doctors should be registered to a GP outside of family/friends

all doctors should be immunised against common serious communicable diseases

if a doctor is ill/recieving treatment that affects their ability to work OR that is passable on to patients, another suitibly qualified colleague should be sought to cover. you must not risk assess this on your own and if they make any changes to your care it must be taken on board.`

Question 9

For Domain 3: communication, partnership and teamwork, what is required of doctors when considering effective communication

Answer 9

you must listen to patients, ensure any of their communication needs are met, be considerate of relatives and always ensure you are available to patients/colleagues/relatives seeking information advice or support

Question 10

For Domain 3: communication, partnership and teamwork, what is required of doctors when considering working collaboratively with colleagues

Answer 10

you must work collaboratively with colleagues, treat them with respect whilst being aware how your behaviour affects the rest of the team

you must take up any post you have formally accepted, and work your contractual notice period before leaving a job, unless the employer has reasonable time to make other arrangements

Question 11

For Domain 3: communication, partnership and teamwork, what is required of doctors when considering teaching, training, supporting and assessing

Answer 11

you should be prepared to mentor, teach and train

all staff you are training must be placed under appropriate supervision

you must be honest when writing references, including conduct, competence and performance

you must be there to support other colleagues when they have issues with performance/health but patient safety must be top priority

Question 12

For Domain 3: communication, partnership and teamwork, what is required of doctors when considering continuity of care

Answer 12

you must contribute to the safe transfer of patients between healthcare providers and health and social care providers meaning that a handover should always be done and confirmation that care has been taken over by a named clinician - esp in vulnerable patients, whilst being satisfied they are able to safely look after the patient

Question 13

For Domain 3: communication, partnership and teamwork, what is required of doctors when considering establishing and maintaining partnerships with patients

Answer 13

you must be polite and considerate, treating all patients equally regardess of personal beliefs

you must share all information with patients about their care including their condition, their progress and who is responsible for their care

treat all info as confidential, even after they have died

you must support patients in their efforts to make lifestyle adjustments to better their health

if you object to a procedure you must tell the patient and arrange for them to see another doctor, or another suitably qualified colleague

Question 14

For Domain 4: Maintaining Trust, what is required of doctors for showing respect for patients

Answer 14

you must not use your professional status to persue inappropriate sexual/emotional relationships with patients

you must not express personal beliefs to patients ina way that would cause them distress

if things have gone wrong you must

1. put matters right
2. offer an apology
3. explain what has happened and explain short/long term effects

Question 15

For Domain 4: Maintaining Trust, what is required of doctors for treating patients and colleagues fairly and without discrimination

Answer 15

you must give the best care based on priority of clinical need, despite your personal feelings on if the patients lifestyle has caused it, or if their condition puts you at risk - although you should make all the steps to minimise that risk

you must consider the needs of disabled patients and cater to them

you must respond promptly and honestly to mistakes and apologise when appropriate

you should end a professional relationship when you cant provide the best caer for them due to a breakdown in the relationship

you must ensure you have medical indemnity insurance at all times and if someone you have come into contact with asks for your GMC number you have to give it to them

Question 16

For Domain 4: Maintaining Trust, what is required of doctors for acting with honesty and integrity

Answer 16

You must make sure that your conduct justifies your patients’ trust in you and the public’s trust in the profession.

You must always be honest about your experience, qualifications and current role.

You must act with honesty and integrity when designing, organising or carrying out research, and follow national research governance guidelines and our guidance

Question 17

For Domain 4: Maintaining Trust, what is required of doctors for communicating effectively

Answer 17

You must be honest and trustworthy in all your communication with patients and colleagues. This means you must make clear the limits of your knowledge and make reasonable checks to make sure any information you give is accurate.

When communicating publicly, including speaking to or writing in the media, you must maintain patient confidentiality. You should remember when using social media that communications intended for friends or family may become more widely available.

When advertising your services, you must make sure the information you publish is factual and can be checked, and does not exploit patients’ vulnerability or lack of medical knowledge.

You must be honest and trustworthy when writing reports, and when completing or signing forms, reports and other documents. You must make sure that any documents you write or sign are not false or misleading.

You must take reasonable steps to check the information is correct.
You must not deliberately leave out relevant information

Question 18

For Domain 4: Maintaining Trust, what is required of doctors for maintaining openness in legal or disciplenary procedings

Answer 18

you must participate in any tribunals or disciplinary hearings of any type, whilst ensuring that your competencies/role are clearly laid out and that the information you give is correct

you must report if you have been arrested/charged/given a warning/another body has raised fitness to practice concerns

if you have been suspended for fitness to practice reasons you must inform any other medical organisation youre a part of and any patients you see independently

Question 19

For Domain 4: Maintaining Trust, what is required of doctors for maintaining honesty in financial dealings

Answer 19

You must be honest in financial and commercial dealings with patients, employers, insurers and other organisations or individuals.

You must not allow any interests you have to affect the way you prescribe for, treat, refer or commission services for patients.

If you are faced with a conflict of interest, you must be open about the conflict, declaring your interest formally, and you should be prepared to exclude yourself from decision making.

You must not ask for or accept – from patients, colleagues or others – any inducement, gift or hospitality that may affect or be seen to affect the way you prescribe for, treat or refer patients or commission services for patients. You must not offer these inducements.