This article aims to provide an overview of the current procedures in place by the General Medical Council to assess the fitness to practise of poorly performing doctors.
Method
It outlines the legal background, the structure and the rationale behind the type of assessments used.
Results
Specialty specific Tests of Competence and a workplace-based assessment are carried out by a specially trained and appointed team of assessors. All assessments are designed to the highest standards by expert teams, including trained stakeholders.
Conclusions
Assessments are continually being updated and validated to ensure high standards in this high stakes process.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
General Medical Council Fitness to Practise Annual Statistics2007. See http://www.gmc-uk.org/about/council/papers/2008_07/5_-_annex_a_-_fitness_to_practise_-_annual_statistics_for_2007.pdf (last checked 14 November 2008)
2.
General Medical Council (Fitness to Practise) Rules Order of Council2004. See http://www.gmc-uk.org/about/legislation/Fitness_to_Practise_Rules_2004_07_12-07.pdf (last checked 22 October 08)
3.
Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board. Developing and maintaining an assessment system – a PMETB guide to good practice. London: PMETB, 2007
4.
HodgesB, RegehrG, HansonM, McNaughtonN. An objective structured clinical examination for evaluating psychiatric clinical clerks. Acad Med1997; 72: 715–21
5.
NorciniJJ. Setting standards on educational tests. Med Educ2003; 37: 464–9
6.
SwansonDB, HoltzmanKZ, ClauserBE, SawhillAJ. Psychometric characteristics and response times for one-best-answer questions in relation to number and source of option. Acad Med2005; 80: S93–S96
7.
SchuwirthL, van der VleutenC. How to design a useful test: the principles of assessment. Edinburgh: ASME, 2007
8.
MillerGE. The assessment of clinical skills/competence/performance. Acad Med1990; 65: S63–S67
