Doctors should to be held to account for behaviour of colleagues, say MPs

In its first annual review of the functions of the General Medical Council, the House of Commons Health Committee has called for the regulator to send "a clear signal" to doctors that they are at as much risk of being investigated for failing to report concerns about a fellow doctor as they are from poor practice on their own part. "Every practising doctor and nurse knows that in addition to their obligation to care for their patients, they have an obligation as professionals to report to their professional body any concerns they have about the quality of care being delivered by their colleagues as a result of what they know or should have known," said Mr Dorrell. Paul Flynn, deputy chairman of the BMA's Central Consultants and Specialists Committee, said, "It would be contrary to natural justice to be held to account for something you genuinely didn't know about, but perhaps those who stick their heads in the sand and deliberately don't look for problems should be held to account for it."