Regulating the Medical Profession Flashcards
How does Good Medical Practice relate?
GMP is the document followed by medical professionals & used in medical courts when policing healthcare professionals
Define probity?
Being honest and trustworthy and acting with integrity
Inf what situations can you give up confidential information?
1) IF the patient gave consent e.g. to family/other doctors/for education
2) Court Order
3) Statutory Obligation
4) Public Interest Disclosure
5) Patient’s best (medical) interest
When would you make a public interest disclosure?
Consider “If you do not act is there a risk of serious harm or death to the patient or someone else”? e.g. rape, murder, abuse or serious violence
Remember a patients name, address and contact details are confidential too!
…
What if you see your patient doing something illegal but it doesn’t reach the level for a Public Interest Disclosure?
You can’t report them by name as you know that through your medical practice so its confidential. You could still report them by their physical features or give CCTV (if they say, stole money in the practice)
What could qualify as dishonesty?
Lying/embellishing on your CV
Fraud
Theft
Plagiarism
Give some examples of boundary issues?
- Treating Family & Friends
- On-line prescribing or assessing
- Socialising with patients
- Innapropriate Intimate exams
How might social networking cause you problems?
Denigration - comments about colleaques, patients or health board that might undermine public trust in doctors or the health system
Confidentiality breach
Defamation
Crime
What are the rules regarding intimate exams and chaperones?
You have to offer a chaperone
But your not obligated to perform an exam if there isn’t one
If you can’t find a chaperone and clinically don’t want to wait till another day to do an intimate exam then you must find a colleague who will
What are the functions of the GMC?
- Set Standards for Doctors
- Oversee medical education & training
- Manage UK Medical Register
- Investigate & Act on concerns re. doctors
- Raising standards through revalidation
How does the GMC advise handling a complaint?
4 points:
- must deal with complaints constructively & honestly
- Co-operate with any complaints procedure
- Must not prejudice the care or treatment of the complainer
- Apologise (when appropriate)
What are the common causes for complaint?
- Error
- Grief
- Poor understanding or explanation
- Unrealistic expectations
- Failure to appreciate needs/wishes of patients
How should you respond to a local complaints?
- Identify the different issues within the complaint
- Respond to each issue
- Acknowledge any valid parts of the complaint
- Explain steps you’ve taken to prevent valid parts occurring again
How should you respond to disciplinary action from employers?
Accept the mistake and explain any extenuating circumstances e.g. being overworked
