Patients trust and respect the great majority of doctors and appreciate the skilful care they receive. We are tired of headlines exposing the few who let down the profession and shake our confidence. The measures in the government's white paper should ensure that doctors have an opportunity to show their expertise while patients can be assured that any doctor they consult is competent and deserving of their trust.

Self regulation has produced some spectacular failures: Harold Shipman, Bristol, Rodney Ledward, Richard Neale, William Kerr …