New advice on cases of sexual misconduct of doctors

Last month, we reported on the research that was seen in almost a quarter of the cases involving sexual fault, the MPTs imposed sanctions on more indulgent doctors than those recommended by the regulator, the General Medical Council (GMC).

Criticism was based on the results of 46 cases with offenses, including harassment, rape and attacks of patients, colleagues and children.

Some doctors have received suspensions instead of following GMC’s advice to remove them from the medical register.

At the time, the Royal College of Surgeons accused the MPT of victims’ failure and to worsen the trauma they had suffered.

Now there are new guidelines for these types of cases, including more details on how to assess the severity of allegations.

Gill Edelman, who is the acting president of the MPTs, says that she hopes that the new advice will support coherent and well prosecuted decisions in the event of sexual misconduct.

“Hearings involving allegations of sexual misconduct remains an area of ​​control and concern,” she said.

“We recognize the decisions of the impact court on doctors and complainants.

“It is therefore essential that our courts are reaching fair, proportionate and transparent decisions and that there is clarity for all concerns in the range of results that can be expected.”

The new guidelines mean that for the first time, the members of the court will have to consider what is described as “sanctions bands”.

This aims to indicate the range of results that can be expected in different types of cases, once a court has decided if a doctor presents a low, medium or high risk for the public.

There are also more details on the evaluation of the severity of an allegation and characteristics can increase seriousness.

For example, allegations involving sexual assault, relationships or inappropriate violence will generally fall to the upper end of the spectrum.

Directives also mean that persistent or repeated behavior and led to a vulnerable person can increase gravity.

Much of the MPT criticisms were led by the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Professor Vivien Lees, the main vice-president of the college, said that new advice is now a welcome step.

She said it was “encouraging” to see that the community of surgical health care was listened to and that the advice is reinforced.

“The actual test will be in the way these guidelines will be applied. The current medical regulation system fails misconduct objectives.

“Instead of doing justice, the system often aggravates trauma, allows the authors to stay in a position of authority and, ultimately, undermines care for patients.”

Professor Lees added: “We hope that these changes will lead to better support for targets, to greater responsibility for the authors and to the culture of safety, respect and integrity between health care.”

The new guidelines come into force from November.