General Medical Council (GMC)

The General Medical Council (GMC) is the UK's regulatory body for doctors. It maintains the medical register and sets standards for medical education and practice. The GMC's primary role is to protect patients and improve medical education and practice across the UK. Recent news highlights concerns about the GMC's oversight and effectiveness. Specifically, the GMC is newsworthy due to cases involving doctors facing scrutiny for various reasons. These include a doctor struck off for a botched circumcision still performing the procedure as a layperson, raising questions about safeguarding; an expert witness in the Lucy Letby trial being under GMC investigation during the trial itself; and concerns about private cannabis clinics and the prescriptions they issue. These events raise questions about the GMC's ability to effectively monitor doctors' fitness to practice, regulate medical procedures, and ensure patient safety, making its role and actions highly relevant in current discussions about healthcare regulation and accountability.