MPTS hearings
Dear General Medical Council,
I have surprisingly noted that GMC/MPTS hearing dates with the name of the practitioner and details of the untested allegations are published in advance on your websites.
Unless or until the allegations are proven, there remains the reasonable possibility that the allegations will be found unproven. ( The Law Courts system merely lists the names of defendants and not the details of the allegations prior to any hearing. )
What is the GMC policy for managing data and using it appropriately, fairly and without injustice to the data subject?
Does the GMC have a policy on vetting any public disclosure (such as the mpts hearings calendar with names of practitioners and details of untested allegations) to ensure there is no possibility of defamation by act or omission?
What are the internal guidelines of the GMC which stipulate the disclosure of allegations into the public domain prior to an actual hearing?
Has the gmc taken legal advice from counsel to clarify whether it is committing defamation by publishing untested/unproven allegations prior to a hearing taking place?
Is the GMC bound by the same laws as the rest of the United Kingdom?
Is the GMC bound by the Data Protection Act?
Yours faithfully,
susan charnock
Thank you for getting in touch.
We’ll get back to you as soon as we can with a further acknowledgement.
You’ll usually hear from us on the next working day, but it might take a
little longer during busy periods.
In the meantime, if you want any further information about the GMC, please
visit our website.
Thank you
Information access team
General Medical Council
Email: [GMC request email]
Telephone: 0161 923 6365
Working with doctors Working for patients
The General Medical Council helps to protect patients and improve medical
education and practice in the UK by setting standards for students and
doctors. We support them in achieving (and exceeding) those standards, and
take action when they are not met.
Dear Ms Charnock
Your information request – F16/8037/ME
Thank you for your email dated 23 March.
How we will consider your request
We’re going to look at your request under the Freedom of Information Act
2000 (FOIA). The FOIA gives us 20 working days to respond but we’ll come
back to you as soon as we can.
Who to contact
Mark Ellen will be handling your request. If you have any questions you
can call him on 0161 923 6347 or email him at [1][email address].
Yours sincerely
Miss Sadie Jones
Information Assistant
[2][email address]
0161 250 6889
General Medical Council
3 Hardman Street
Manchester
M3 3AW
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Ms Charnock
Reference: IAT/ME/F16/8037
Thank you for your e-mail of 23 March 2016.
Taking each of your queries in turn:
The GMC data protection policy can be found on our website. Here is a link: http://www.gmc-uk.org/publications/right....
The publication of information relating to allegations about individual practitioners before and after MPTS hearings is governed by the GMC's Publications and Disclosure policy: http://www.gmc-uk.org/DC4380_Publication...
The GMC is bound by any laws governing the UK.
The GMC is bound by the Data Protection Act 1998.
Yours sincerely
Mark Ellen
Mark Ellen
Information Access Team
General Medical Council
3 Hardman Street
Manchester M3 3AW
Direct Line: 0161 923 6347
We work to defend the right to FOI for everyone
Help us protect your right to hold public authorities to account. Donate and support our work.
Donate Now