England to consider shake-up of medical regulation

doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7560.163

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Andrew Cole

London

England's chief medical officer, Liam Donaldson, has recommended a radical shake-up of the way doctors' performance is assessed and a substantial reduction in the powers of their regulatory body, the General Medical Council.

Professor Liam Donaldson: “A senior doctor can go through a 30 year career without undergoing a single assessment of their fitness to practise”

Credit: DEPT OF HEALTH

The long anticipated review of medical regulation contains 44 recommendations, including lowering the burden of proof in misconduct cases; a rigorous system of revalidation for all doctors; and the devolution of many of the GMC's powers to local hospital level.

The report, prompted by the murder of an estimated 250 patients by the GP Harold Shipman and a subsequent inquiry …