A Step Forward In Patient Care?

The Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, has announced a

shake-up in the assessment of doctors which is set to be the

biggest change to the regulation of the medical profession in 150

years.

The need for further regulation has long been put forward by

organisations representing the medical profession, including the

General Medical Council (GMC). The issue was highlighted by the

inquiry into the actions of Harold Shipman, who murdered up to 250

of his patients, often with the use of narcotic drugs that he had

stockpiled. The inquiry criticised the regulation of doctors as not

being focused enough on patients. But given that Harold Shipman was

a criminal who may well have passed the new proposals, what will

further assessment and regulation achieve? Will it result in better

standards for patients, or an increased burden on doctors and the

practice of 'defensive medicine' with doctors having less

time for patients?

The intention of the...