Government plans to change the way doctors are regulated must have the support of the medical profession if they are to protect patients, the BMA says today (Tuesday 6 November, 2007).
Under the Health and Social Care Bill announced in the Queen’s speech today, the government would abandon the criminal standard of proof (beyond reasonable doubt) in doctors’ fitness to practise cases. Instead, doctors could be struck off the medical register on the “balance of probabilities”.
Dr Hamish Meldrum, Chairman of Council at the BMA, says:
“The BMA is keen to ensure that patients are protected from the small minority of doctors who represent a threat to patients. However, this will not be achieved by abandoning the criminal standard of proof. The best protection of the public will be achieved by a system that commands the confidence of the profession and will encourage doctors to speak about problems with their own practice, or that of colleagues. We urge the government to think again.
“If a doctor is at risk of losing their livelihood then surely nothing less than the current criminal standard of proof will do. The BMA will continue to lobby very hard to maintain this.”
Commenting on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, Dr Meldrum says:
"The BMA supports the government's moves to reform the regulation of human embryology and we look forward to working with ministers to develop this forthcoming legislation.”
The BMA also expresses its disappointment that the draft bill on coroners’ reform has been shelved:
Dr Meldrum adds:
“The BMA has been calling for reform of death certification since 1971. The system is in dire need of an overhaul, and it’s frustrating that this has been delayed yet again.”
