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
SWE case resolved through simple accepted disposal
Kings View client avoids lengthy fitness to practise hearing by agreeing to an Accepted Disposal.Kings View client avoids lengthy fitness to practise hearing by agreeing to an Accepted Disposal. In this case, the fitness to practise allegations made against our...
Client free to practise without any restrictions
The Health and Care Professions Council has decided to lift a restrictive order placed on our client following representation from Kings View.The Health and Care Professions Council has decided to lift a restrictive order placed on our client following representation...
Positive outcome for Social Worker facing SWE investigation
The case concluded with a Conditions of Practise Order that was workable for our client and they were very pleased with the outcome.Our client, WM, accepted an Agreed Disposal, thereby avoiding a costly and lengthy fitness to practise hearing. This was a sensitive...
Kings View Client Avoids Costly Fitness to Practise Hearing
Specialist legal advice will assist nurses with advice on insight and evidence of remediation, but early engagement is essential.Our client, WM, accepted an Agreed Disposal, thereby avoiding a costly and lengthy fitness to practise hearing. This was a sensitive case...