The consultation paper Protecting Patients: A Summary Consultative Document, published this week by the General Medical Council (GMC), Britain's licensing body for doctors, sets out options for reform under two main headings: the GMC's structure, constitution, and governance; and its procedures for dealing with allegations against doctors. The proposed reforms follow harsh criticism from the public, government, and doctors that the GMC is, among other things, unwieldy, slow, defensive, and constrained in its powers.rnThe GMC currently consists of a council with 104 members, including 25 lay members. Under the GMC's preferred model for reform key decisions would be made by a new executive board of 20-25 members (60% medical and 40% lay). The board would be elected from, and accountable to, a wider council of around 80 members, equally split between medical and lay members. A lay chair would oversee the council, while a medical president would preside over the executive board.
展开▼
