GMC must recognise and deal with vexatious complaints fast

doi:10.1136/bmj.324.7330.167a

BMJ 2002;324:167 ( 19 January )

Letters

GMC must recognise and deal with vexatious complaints fast

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR $---$ A letter in GMC News asked what the General Medical Council's strategy was for dealing with frivolous complaints.¹It generated a far from reassuring reply² that is at odds withwhat the NHS ombudsman believes is needed.³ The time takenfor most complaints to be dealt with is already a matter for concern,and doctors increasingly face suspension by their employer whenunder investigation.⁴

A recent ruling by the Privy Council⁵ is likely to exacerbate these delays further despite the best efforts of the GMCto recruit more panellists to its professional conduct committeeby reducing the role of the preliminary screeners.¹ In addition,since the media can make known the names of those under investigation,even a simple factual statement saying that someone is under investigationcan be enough to damage a doctor'sreputation.

We accept that a complaint can often be classified as frivolous only after . . . [Full text of this article]

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Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

But What If?: Mark I Fisher
bmj.com, 19 Jan 2002 [Full text]
Frivolity at the GMC: Mark Struthers
bmj.com, 21 Jan 2002 [Full text]
Occupational Physicians are also vulnerable to vindictive and malicious complaints: Charles Jonathan Poole
bmj.com, 10 Dec 2002 [Full text]
Sabotage?: C Johnson
bmj.com, 9 Nov 2003 [Full text]
Oh that the GMC would act swiftly: Penny Mellor
bmj.com, 11 Nov 2003 [Full text]
An even playing field ?: Davina Hollisey-Mclean
bmj.com, 29 Nov 2003 [Full text]
A Vexatious Complaints Procedure - A System in Denial!.: Charles Pragnell
bmj.com, 2 Dec 2003 [Full text]
Will they listen now?: Penny Mellor
bmj.com, 6 Dec 2003 [Full text]
Re: Will they listen now? Perhaps the Privy Council.: Michael D Innis
bmj.com, 8 Dec 2003 [Full text]
First do no harm: CA Johnson
bmj.com, 9 Dec 2003 [Full text]
Cruel Brittania - despite 1997 Published concerns by a British Professional Psychologist: Lisa C Blakemore-Brown
bmj.com, 13 Dec 2003 [Full text]
Re: Re: Will they listen now? Perhaps the Privy Council.: sharon m latta
bmj.com, 9 Dec 2003 [Full text]
Re:Re: First do no harm: Philip.P.C Moore
bmj.com, 10 Dec 2003 [Full text]
Re: Will they listen now? Perhaps the Privy Council.: CA Johnson
bmj.com, 10 Dec 2003 [Full text]
Re: Re:Re: First do no harm: sharon m latta
bmj.com, 10 Dec 2003 [Full text]
The damned diagnosis: Mark Struthers
bmj.com, 11 Dec 2003 [Full text]
Re: First do no harm: CA Johnson
bmj.com, 13 Dec 2003 [Full text]
Re: Re:Re: First do no harm: Michael D Innis
bmj.com, 13 Dec 2003 [Full text]
Re: Re:Re: First do no harm: Davina Hollisey-Mclean
bmj.com, 11 Dec 2003 [Full text]