CONTROL OF DOCTORS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 90, 13 October 1926, Page 14

CONTROL OF DOCTORS

THE MEDICAL COUNCIL

DISCIPLINARY POWERS,

(From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, Bth August. The question of appeals from decisions of the General Medical Council was discussed at length at the annual conference of the British Medical Association. An amendment to the report of the Ethical Committee was brought forward from Hastings stating "that.in the opinion of the representative body, if, and when, the status, constitution, and disciplinary powers of the General Medical Council come under consideration for amendment, the council should take all possible steps to have provided the opportunity for an appeal being made to the Courts from any disciplinary decision of the General Medical Council." Dr. Morse (Bournemouth) moved another amendment that the council of. the association bo instructed to take the necessary steps for securing such amendment of the Medical Acts as shall provide for a right of appeal from the decisions of the General Medical Council (.say for example, to tho Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sitting Avith medical assessors), Avhen such body acts in a judicial capacity, in cases of alleged c' conduct infamous in a professional respect." Dr. Morse urged that the right of. appeal would give confidence to the general practitioner and to everybody else. It would be considered a safeguard to the practitioner who had made a moderate slip. There Avas a general desire to take part in the controversy. When it had gone on some time, the chairman said requests had been made that the methods Avhieh the General Council adopted in these eases should be made known to the representative body by those A\-hq thoroughly understood the course adopted. At the request of the chairman, the Press representatives retired, and the information asked for was given to the meeting in private. Afterwards a report was supplied to the Press of the speeches which had been made. It Avas reported that Sir Jenner Verrall, a member of the General Medical Council, had said that if a Court of Appeal Avas established, at least one medical | man should be on the Appeal Tribunal. The men who composed the General Council knew from the inside the difficulties and troubles of the ordinary medical practitioner and were capable of deciding on the facts. It Avould be exceedingly unwise, dangerous, and unfortunate if the question at issue was left entirely in the hands of a single Judge or of a purely judicial body. Dr. J. 11. Maedonald (General Council) contended that they should be very careful beforo they altered the position of the General Medical Council. He w-as sure the profession was safer in the hands of a body of men Avho kncAv the conditions of- life of the medical practitioners rather than in the hands of a judicial body. Sir Robert Bolam (a member of the General Medical Council) said there was nobody better fitted than the General Council to decide in these matters. They gave those Avho came before them the most sympathetic hearing. Neither of the amendments was voted upon, and the meeting proceeded to tlie next business. An amendment that the Medical Acts should be amended so as to provide for a larger direct representation of medical practitioners on the General Medical Council was negatived.