GMC consultation on personal beliefs and medical practice guidance

The GMC's Personal beliefs and medical practice guidance first published in 2013, explains how doctors, physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs) can provide good practice, safe care and meet professional standards, while taking into account both their own personal beliefs and the beliefs of their patients.

With the healthcare environment having changed significantly since initial publication, the GMC are now looking to update this. Key proposed changes include:

• ensuring the guidance is:
  • consistent with the law
  • reflects legal, cultural and professional developments
  • aligned with good medical practice
• focusing on core principles that apply across a wide range of healthcare settings
• improving the structure to make it easier to navigate
• updating the tone to acknowledge the diversity of belief systems today.

The GMC encourage healthcare organisations, as well as patients and healthcare professionals to share their views and help shape this guidance.