Medical Student Fitness to Practise Defence Barristers
Healthcare regulators set the learning outcomes and standards that must be covered by qualifications leading to registration. They also approve and monitor these training programmes. The standards expected of registered healthcare professionals are set by healthcare regulators and the standards expected of students are based on these principles.
Medical Student Fitness to Practise
In relation to a doctor’s fitness to practise, therefore also medical students, the GMC states:
To practise safely, doctors must be competent in what they do. They must establish and maintain effective relationships with patients, respect patients’ autonomy and act responsibly and appropriately if they or a colleague fall ill and their performance suffers.
But these attributes, while essential, are not enough. Doctors have a respected position in society and their work gives them privileged access to patients, some of whom may be very vulnerable. A doctor whose conduct has shown that they cannot justify the trust placed in them should not continue in unrestricted practice while that remains the case.
A medical student’s fitness to practise may be impaired by reason of:
- misconduct
- deficient professional performance
- a conviction or caution in the British Isles (or a conviction elsewhere for an offence which would be a criminal offence if committed in England or Wales)
- adverse physical or mental health
- not having the necessary knowledge of English
- a determination (decision) by a regulatory body responsible for regulation of a health or social care profession, either in the UK or overseas, to the effect that their fitness to practise as a member of the profession is impaired
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Risk to patients, public or bringing the profession into disrepute
If a medical student’s behaviour suggests they may be a risk to patients or the public, or may bring the profession into disrepute, the school or university will launch a formal investigation.
If there is sufficient evidence to call into question a medical student’s fitness to practise, the school or university can deal with the issue without the need for a fitness to practise committee. For example, a warning, educational remediation, educational agreement or offer an undertaking might be more appropriate.
The outcomes of an investigation could also refer the case to a fitness to practise panel or committee.
How does student fitness to practise work?
Representation & Appeals
Recent Cases
Kings View successful in revocation of NMC Interim Conditions of Practice
In this case, our client M, a nurse, faced allegations made by colleagues about her behaviour during the beginning of COVID.In this case, our client M, a nurse, faced allegations made by colleagues about her behaviour during the beginning of COVID. M approached Kings...
No case to answer for doctor facing 30 allegations of dishonesty
MPTS conclude there was no case to answer for a doctor facing 30 allegations of dishonesty.Dr GVC instructed Kings View to represent her before the MPTS in her GMC fitness to practise case. In a very complex case, Dr GVC faced 30 allegations of dishonesty across 7...
Kings View Chambers represent doctor who accepted a police caution
In this case, Dr S accepted a police caution and delayed notifying the GMC. Dr S admitted these allegations before the Medical Practitioner’s Tribunal (MPT).Dr S was represented by fitness to practise defence barrister Catherine Stock. Catherine successfully...
Kings View client avoids NMC suspension
This case involves 2 separate referrals made to the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) by different employers for related matters. The nurse, GG, was at risk of an Interim Order of Suspension that put his new employment in jeopardy.This case involves 2 separate...