Gross negligence manslaughter

Learn Not Blame

Jenny Vaughan for the BMJ: Medical manslaughter — will the findings of an independent review be a tipping point for change?

The General Medical Council (GMC) has just published the 29 final recommendations of the long-awaited reviewinto how gross negligence manslaughter and culpable homicide are applied to medical practice. This was an independent review chaired by consultant cardiac surgeon, Leslie Hamilton, and undertaken after widespread criticism of the GMC’s handling of the case of Hadiza Bawa-Garba. The Doctor’s Association UK, among many other organisations, has been calling for a truly “Just Culture” to be adopted by the NHS for staff and patients alike as part of its Learn Not Blame campaign, and broadly welcomes the report.

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June 6, 2019
Learn Not Blame

Criminalisation of Healthcare. Does it improve patient safety? Dr Jenny Vaughan speaks at the Intensive Care Society State of the Art conference

Dr Jenny Vaughan, our Law and Policy Officer gave a talk at ICS SOA 2018 entitled ‘Criminalisation of Healthcare. Does it improve patient safety?’. Jenny discussed the history of gross negligence manslaughter in the UK, case law, and revisited the case of Dr Bawa-Garba. You can now listen to Jenny’s full speech as a podcast on the ICS site, including advice on how doctors can avoid litigation.

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February 17, 2019
Learn Not Blame

DAUK replies to Charlie Massey raising concern over the GMC’s continued appealing of MPTS verdicts to impose harsher sanctions on doctors

DAUK has replied to a letter from Charlie Massey dated 13 September. We welcome the apology offered by Mr Massey and the opportunity to meet. DAUK has, however, expressed concern in a number of areas, including the news that the GMC is continuing to appeal MPTS verdicts, and call on the GMC to cease doing so urgently. 

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September 21, 2018