Dangerous Eccentric and Ex Jail Bird on Child Protection Working Party :)

Qualifications - None

I choked on my cornflakes today while reading this press release. I had to howl with laughter at the GMC's primary choice on the Working Party.  Many may like to refer to these notable infamous pieces. 

1. Domain Name Bungle
2. Download the judgment  on the Wicked Conspirator
3. Scientology.

Just to summarize this, the GMC has invited an ex convict to its Working Party :).Perhaps the GMC will invest in some Teletubbies DVDs and sit her in the corner to learn the basics first.

GMC announces review of child protection guidance

Press Release

15 Jul 2010

A working group is to produce new guidance for doctors involved in child protection

The working group's members come from different perspectives but they are all committed to developing clear guidance for doctors which will promote good practice and benefit vulnerable children.

Niall Dickson, GMC Chief Executive

The General Medical Council has announced that Rt. Hon. Lord Justice Thorpe, Deputy Chair of the Family Justice Council and Lord Justice of Appeal will chair a working group to produce new guidance for doctors involved in child protection.

The working group has been asked to develop guidance that will help doctors involved in this complex and challenging area of practice to interpret and apply the standards expected by the GMC.

The group has 14 members including 7 doctors from a number of specialities and 7 lay members. It includes individuals from a range of backgrounds with an understanding of both children's and parents' perspectives.

The Working Group will:

* Review the content of relevant GMC guidance against significant developments regarding doctors' roles in child protection (such as Good Medical Practice; 0-18 years: guidance for all doctors, Confidentiality, and Acting as an expert witness)

* Identify and consider any guidelines other organisations have published on issues related to doctors in child protection work and how this might inform or complement GMC guidance.

* Engage with a range of experts on the challenges and practical difficulties doctors face undertaking child protection work, and to seek the views of key interests.

* Decide the scope and structure of new guidance, taking account of other GMC guidance.

* Recommend a draft of the guidance to the GMC

* Oversee and analyse the outcome of a formal consultation exercise.

* Consider, and advise on, ways in which the new guidance could be disseminated, promoted, and used, and its impact evaluated.

Niall Dickson, the Chief Executive of the General Medical Council, said:

"Lord Justice Thorpe brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this important role - providing doctors who work in child protection with guidance that will help them in their day to day work is vital. We need to build confidence in what will always be a difficult area of practice. The working group's members come from different perspectives but they are all committed to developing clear guidance for doctors which will promote good practice and benefit vulnerable children".

The Rt. Hon. Lord Justice Thorpe, Chair of the Working Group on Child Protection, said:

"I am delighted to be asked to chair the group. I very much hope that the initiative the GMC has taken will contribute to the future in which doctors feel secure in contributing to child protection procedures, including giving expert evidence to the courts."

The fourteen members of the Working Group are:

* The Rt. Hon. Lord Justice Thorpe (Chair), Deputy Chair of the Family Justice Council, Lord Justice of Appeal

GMC Council members:

* Dr John Jenkins, Consultant Paediatrician

* Ms Ros Levenson, Independent Researcher and Policy Consultant

* Professor Terrence Stephenson, President, RCPCH

Other Working Group members:

* Dr Keith Brent, Consultant Paediatrician

* Ms Anne Goymer, UK Strategic Lead Health, Barnado's

* Dr Danya Glaser, Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist

* Dr Diane Hart, Principal Officer, National Children's Bureau

* Dr Kathleen Lessells, Retired GP and Medical Adviser for Fostering and Adoption

* Ms Bridget Lindley, Deputy Chief Executive and Legal Adviser, Family Rights Group

* Baroness McIntosh, House of Lords

* Mrs Penny Mellor, Parent Advocate

* Dr Heather Payne, Consultant Paediatrician

* Dr Rosalyn Proops, Consultant Paediatrician

All members have been asked to serve as individuals, rather than as representatives of organisations.

The new guidance will complement and support guidance already developed by the General Medical Council which sets out the key ethical values that must underpin practice, including 0-18 years: guidance for all doctors; Consent: patients and doctors making decisions together and Confidentiality.

The group has been asked to produce the new guidance by the end of 2011, and will begin the process by issuing a call for evidence this summer. The Working Group will seek both oral and written evidence from a wide range of individuals and organisations, to understand the issues from different perspectives. More details about this process will be announced shortly.