Intended for healthcare professionals

Rapid response to:

Editorials

Roles and responsibilities of medical expert witnesses

BMJ 2005; 331 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.331.7512.305 (Published 04 August 2005) Cite this as: BMJ 2005;331:305

Rapid Response:

GMC and "reputation of profession"

Advocates of a strict regime in the disciplinary role that the GMC
exercises over medical practitioners often quote the judgement in the case
of Bolton v Law Society. Sometimes I wonder if they have read the report
of this case.

The relevant profession (the importance of whose reputation was
emphasised) was the legal one, in particular, the solicitors' profession.

More importantly, judgement was unanimously given in favour of the
plaintiff (Bolton), i.e. not in favour of his disciplinary body (Law
Society).

Competing interests:
None declared

Competing interests: No competing interests

12 October 2005
Anne F Travers
Retired public health physician
Leeds LS8 4AD