The General Medical Council (GMC) is the regulatory body for doctors in the UK. The legal basis of the GMC's powers are derived from the Medical Act 1983 (MeA 1983) and are given effect through the General Medical Council (Fitness to Practise) Rules Order of Council 2004, SI 2004/2608 (GMC Fitness to Practise Rules 2004).
The purpose of the GMC, in exercising its statutory functions, is to 'protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the public'.
The GMC's fitness to practise procedures are divided into two separate stages:
investigation—cases investigated to assess whether they should be referred to the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) for adjudication
adjudication—a hearing by a Medical Practitioners Tribunal (MPT) (formerly known as 'Fitness to Practise Panel')
See Practice Note: The disciplinary and regulatory powers of the GMC which explains the role and functions of the GMC in respect of its disciplinary and regulatory powers. It explains the fitness to practise requirement and the procedures which determine this. It includes information on deficient medical performance and misconduct.
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