New guidance for doctors who want to protest or take other forms of activism in support of causes they feel strongly about has been issued.
The update by the General Medical Council recognises that recent cases have raised questions about how their general guidance applies to doctors who want to express publicly their views on social or ethical issues.
This is an important update from the GMC, and we encourage our members to read it.
We also encourage members to contact our medico-legal advisory team with any concerns or questions about how they can express their own opinions without falling foul of their regulator.
The GMC’s update states: “Our guidance on personal beliefs and medical practice is clear – like all citizens, doctors are entitled to their political opinions and have the right to campaign on issues.
“However, Good medical practice domain 1 makes clear that doctors must follow the law. And doctors have a duty under Good medical practice domain 4 to tell us about any criminal charges, convictions or cautions.”
This page was correct at the time of publication. Any guidance is intended as general guidance for members only. If you are a member and need specific advice relating to your own circumstances, please contact one of our advisers.