References

Kelleher M. Regulators and regulations: who will guard the guards? (or ‘Quis custodiet ipsos custodes’ as old Juvenal used to say). Dent Update. 2015; 42:406-410
Holden ACL. Self-regulation in dentistry and the social contract. Br Dent J. 2016; 221:449-451
Hancocks S. Listening and shouting. Br Dent J. 2017; 223
Hancocks S. Again and again and will it be again?. Br Dent J. 2017; 223
Al Hassan A. Defensive dentistry and the young dentist – this isn't what we signed up for. Br Dent J. 2017; 223:757-758
Kelleher M. State-sponsored dental terrorism?. Br Dent J. 2017; 223:759-764
Armstrong M, Ward P. The GDC – a law unto itself?. Br Dent J. 2017; 223:815-818
Baker RA. Cause for concern: BDA v GDC. Br Dent J. 2018; 224:769-776
D'Cruz L. Blue on blue. Br Dent J. 2020; 228:13-14
O'Malley C. 50 Lashes by the GDC – Time for Change at the GDC?. Dent Update. 2020; 47:7-10
Professional Standards Authority. The Performance Review Standards, Standards of Good Regulation 2016. https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/docs/default-source/publications/standards/standards-of-good-regulation.pdf?sfvrsn=e3577e20_6 (Accessed March 2020)
General Medical Council (GB). GMC TRACKING SURVEY 2016. https://www.gmc-uk.org/-/media/documents/gmc-tracking-survey-2016---final-report_pdf-73541068.pdf (Accessed March 2020)
Bourne T Doctors' perception of support and the processes involved in complaints investigations and how these relate to welfare and defensive practice: a crosssectional survey of the UK physicians. BMJ Open. 2017; 7 https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017856
British Medical Association. Stand by me: surviving a GMC investigation. 2015. https://www.bma.org.uk/news/2015/february/stand-by-me-surviving-a-gmc-investigation (Accessed March 2020)
General Dental Council (GB). Annual Report and Accounts 2018. https://www.gdc-uk.org/docs/default-source/annual-reports/annual-report-and-accounts-2018-final.pdf?sfvrsn=7b0e96c3_4 (Accessed March 2020)
Mental Health Daily. Top 11 Profession with Highest Suicide Rates. https://mentalhealthdaily.com/2015/01/06/top-11-professions-with-highest-suicide-rates/ (Accessed March 2020)
General Medical Council (GB). Doctors who commit suicide while under GMC fitness to practise investigation 2014. https://www.gmc-uk.org/-/media/documents/Internal_review_into_suicide_in_FTP_processes.pdf_59088696.pdf (Accessed March 2020)
The Free Library Dentist found dead at former practice. 2010. https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Dentist+is+found+dead+at+former+practice.-a0237349249 (Accessed March 2020)
British Medical Association. GMC investigation support – Doctor support service. 2019. https://www.bma.org.uk/advice/work-life-support/your-wellbeing/doctor-support-service (Accessed March 2020)
General Dental Council (GB). What support is available during fitness to practise procedures?. https://www.gdc-uk.org/raising-concerns/handling-concerns-about-dental-practice/support-during-fitness-to-practise (Accessed March 2020)
Canadian Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. CanMEDS Framework 1996. https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/YIK8CVm1mIlol1kTGanoy?domain=royalcollege.ca (Accessed March 2020)
General Medical Council (GB). Medical professionalism matters. Report and recommendations. 2016. https://www.gmc-uk.org/-/media/documents/mpm-report_pdf-68646225.pdf (Accessed February 2020)
General Dental Council (GB). General Dental Council Annual Report and Accounts. 2017. https://www.gdc-uk.org/docs/default-source/annual-reports/gdc_annual_report_2017-(2).pdf?sfvrsn=f35bd8dc_2 (Accessed March 2020)
Grady J. Business Intelligence Manager. General Dental Council (GB). Personal Communication 26.03.2020.

Counselling for registrants facing GDC practice committees

From Volume 47, Issue 6, June 2020 | Pages 476-478

Authors

Robert Baker

BDS, LDS, MFDS RCPS(Glas), MSND RCS(Edin), MSc, Bristol, DPDM Exeter

Farmer, Monchique, Portugal

Articles by Robert Baker

Abstract

This paper argues that dentists should act in a professional manner and take a collegiate approach to establish a support system for ‘colleagues in need’ when facing General Dental Council Fitness to Practice Committees similar to that provided for doctors in comparable circumstances.

CPD/Clinical Relevance: The incidence of an allegation made to the GDC, which are associated with registrants' mental and behavioural disorders, and subsequently avoiding difficult procedures, was 3.57 per 100 dentists in 2017.

Article

Like the medical profession, there has been considerable unease within the dental profession regarding the regulatory processes in recent years. Several publications have suggested that it has been found wanting.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

Dentists and doctors are each one of the 32 regulated occupations. Both professions are regulated by bodies established by UK law, the General Dental Council (GDC) and the General Medical Council (GMC), respectively. Both of which provide:

Both Councils are themselves regulated by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care, which sets the standards for regulators in their document Standards of Good Regulation.11 So there is a very strong similarity between their regulatory processes.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Dental Update and reading some of our resources. To read more, please register today. You’ll enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included

  • Up to 2 free articles per month
  • New content available