“Trivial gifts, favours and hospitality” – Managing Conflict of Interests
Nurses & midwives should be careful in accepting gifts, favours and hospitality to avoid causing conflicts of interest and potentially jeopardising their fitness to practise.
Fitness to practise & do’s and do not’s of using social media
The do’s and do not’s of using social media in the context of health and care professions, and how social media can result in fitness to practise issues arising.
Responding to GMC Provisional Enquiries
The GMC’s provisional enquiries identifies cases that should not progress to an full fitness to practise investigation. How should doctors respond?
Will lessons be learnt from Dr Arora?
Dr Arora treatment by the GMC & MPTS has caused universal anger and outrage. A review of the case drew strong criticism of the GMC but will this result on long overdue change?
GMC Investigation Committee – A Doctor’s Rights Explained
Where Case Examiners consider a warning but the doctor disputes the facts or is not willing to accept a warning, they have a right to an oral hearing.
Admissions by dental professionals at the preliminary stage of a fitness to practise hearing
The Dental Professionals Hearings Service is changing the way that admissions made by dental professionals are handled at the preliminary stage of a fitness to practise hearing.
MPTS Hearings and Attendance by Doctors
Do doctors have to attend their MPTS hearings and what are the consequences for doctors who chose not to do so?
Interim Order Extension Appeals
Dr K v GMC perfectly illustrates the value and importance of responding to an Interim Order extension application.
Contextual factors in GMC fitness to practise investigations
“The effects of contextual factors” are relevant in GMC fitness to practise investigations. To what extent are contextual factors relevant, and how can a doctor make their case?
HCPTS refuse HCPC’s application for an interim order
Stephen persuade HCPTS to refuse an application by the HCPC to impose an interim order for a client accused of theft and dishonesty.
Breaches of conditions or undertakings – advice for doctors
Doctors must ensure they adhere to conditions or undertakings. Breaches are likely to result in a referral to the MPTS for a determination.
Misconduct in Fitness to Practise
Regulators often cite “misconduct” as grounds for impaired fitness to practise. What is misconduct and is it remediable?
When should you seek legal advice during a fitness to practise investigation?
Fitness to practise investigations are complex, formal and adversarial. Early access to expert legal advice is crucial to positive outcomes.
Responding to an Interim Order Extension Application
Interim Orders temporarily suspend or restrict practice. Healthcare regulators can apply to extend IOs and professionals should exercise their right to challenge these applications.
GMC Warnings when Fitness to Practise is not Impaired
Where the GMC concludes a doctor’s fitness to practise is not impaired, they can issue a warning to the doctor.