Occupational physicians' perceptions and impact of 2009 GMC consent guidelines

Area of Science:

• Occupational Medicine
• Medical Ethics
• Healthcare Policy

Background:

• In 2009, the General Medical Council (GMC) revised its guidance on informed consent for medical reports.
• The updated guidance mandates offering employees the chance to review reports before employer submission.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of the GMC's 2009 consent guidance on occupational physicians' perspectives and professional practices.
• To understand the perceived and actual effects on employers, employees, physicians, and occupational health services.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was distributed to UK occupational physicians via the Society of Occupational Medicine e-newsletter.
• The survey collected opinions on the anticipated and experienced consequences of the revised consent guidance.

Main Results:

• A 30% response rate yielded 295 completed questionnaires from UK occupational physicians, including 25% of accredited specialists.
• While some noted improved transparency, the guidance was largely viewed negatively, causing delays in advice (50%) and return-to-work (35%).
• Practices varied significantly, costs increased, and challenges arose in areas like pensions and health surveillance.

Conclusions:

• The GMC's 2009 consent guidance resulted in diverse practices and negative outcomes for employees and employers.
• Occupational physicians expressed a need for more explicit practical implementation guidelines.
• Clarification of the ethical basis and scope of the guidance is recommended.