General Medical Council. A clear case of

A review of how the GMC handles complaints against doctors found shortcomings in consistency and transparency of decision-making. The lack of a common definition of what constitutes serious professional misconduct is a major problem. The review found no evidence of discrimination or racial bias in complaints handling. Protocols should be developed for dealing with complaints alleging poor treatment, which account for some 70 per cent of complaints received by the GMC. The whole process of complaints handling should be subject to continual audit, and written records should be kept of all decisions taken.