General Medical Council
Tuesday, 18 November, 2014

This document sets out proposed updates to our sanctions guidance, which MPTS panels use to decide the outcome of cases at fitness to practise hearings. The guidance is also available to our other decision makers when deciding whether to refer a case to a hearing. The consultation also looks at the role of apologies and warnings in our processes, and changes to our guidance on suspension. The principles within this document will also help to inform our guidance for case examiners who make a decision on cases at the end of our initial investigation.

Any change to the range of sanctions available to panels or the circumstances in which we can issue warnings will require further public consultation to introduce legislative change. Later this year, we will also consult on separate explanatory guidance on candour.

Responses to this consultation will help us to understand the impact our proposals could have on groups who are protected under the Equality Act.  Responses will also inform an equality analysis, which we’ll publish before our Council decide whether to make changes to the guidance.