Medical Discipline : The Professional Conduct Jurisdiction of the General Medical Council, 1858-1990

This book looks at the way in which the medical profession in Britain regulates itself. It evaluates the General Medical Council's system of professional discipline from its beginning in 1858 to the present, and provides the first comprehensive study of how the Council deals with cases involving allegations of serious professional misconduct.

This book considers whether or not the General Medical Council''s professional conduct jurisdiction acts fairly and justly when dealing both with doctors whose conduct it controls, and members of the public whose interests it was established to protect. By looking at the legal history of the Council since its inception in 1858 until the present, it is possible to see how the system of medical discipline in Britain developed, to reveal its present anomalies and problems, and to see how best to improve the system, if, indeed, such a system is worthy of preservation. Questions such as the role of lay members on the Council, the use of lawyers and Legal Assessors in hearings, how medical issues are resolved and standards of conduct set for the profession, are all considered. Over 2000 disciplinary cases are then surveyed in terms of the type of allegations made, what sort of doctors are involved, and how they are dealt with. Detailed suggestions are finally made for improving the system.