The GMC: expediency before principle: A former BMA chairman responds

doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7485.252-c

BMJ 2005;330:252-253 (29 January), doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7485.252-c

Letter

The GMC: expediency before principle

A former BMA chairman responds

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

EDITOR—Inexplicable omissions in Smith's intemperate editorialon the GMC prompt me to break an unhappy silence.¹

Late in 1994 the British Medical Association organised a corevalues conference for the whole profession (BMA, royal colleges,deans, GMC). It addressed the challenges facing the professionas outlined by an eminent lay member of the GMC, which, ledby its then president, Lord Kilpatrick, had already formulatedperformance review procedures and called for action by us all.

During the following turbulent years—and intensively during1997 and early 1998—discussions in each part of the professionculminated in a historic commitment, "self-regulation and clinicalgovernance at local and national levels," co-signed by the chairmenof all the leading medical organisations, which was sent tothe Secretary of State for Health, Frank Dobson, and otherson 2 July 1998. In a covering letter Sir Norman Browse, chairmanof the Joint Consultants Committee, on . . . [Full text of this article]

Alexander W Macara, chairman

National Heart Forum, London WC1H 9LG nhf-post@heartforum.org.uk