Good medical practice: guidance for occupational physicians

Following a catalogue of serious, highly publicized medical misdemeanours, the General Medical Council (GMC) has introduced plans for a new system of medical licensing in the UK called 'revalidation'. Under this, the onus will fall on individual doctors, including occupational physicians, to demonstrate their continuing fitness to practice. Doctors will need to show that they meet basic minimum standards in terms of the care they provide, their own continuing professional development, and other aspects of professional life like probity and ethical behaviour. As part of the process, the Faculty of Occupational Medicine, Royal College of Physicians, has produced its own guidance on good medical practice for occupational physicians, following an extensive consultation exercise. This paper summarizes the background to the initiative, the development process and the standards that have been recommended to aid professional accountability.