Part of Health and Social Care Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 12:45 pm on 22 January 2008.
Angela Browning
Deputy Chairman, The Conservative Party
12:45,
22 January 2008
Does my hon. Friend think that it would be helpful if the Minister were to give us some guidance on how that change will be implemented, so that doctors understand that although it is a change from the criminal standard to the civil standard, the longer-term consequence could still be that a doctor is found unfit to practise? Has he had discussions with the GMC and the BMC about how doctors will prepare for such cases? Although a lot of the drivers in this part of the Bill have come from some high profile and tragic cases, in the interests of natural justice, what guidance will be given to doctors to ensure that they have the right preparation and support to ensure that they put the evidence in a timely way, given the potential long-term consequences?
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