1. Our roles and responsibilities as GPs
Professional values
Our roles and responsibilities
as GPs

2. Why do this session? nMRCGP competencies
Working with colleagues and in teams
Maintaining an ethical approach
Fitness to practice
RCGP curriculum chapter 3 – personal and professional responsibilities

3. What roles does a GP have?
Think as widely as possible

4. agent/shaper of policy patient’s advocate
member of a profession
clinician
family doctor
person
agent/shaper of policy
patient’s advocate
researcher
gatekeeper
teacher
resource allocator
GP’s role
reflective practitioner
handler of information
learner
team member
business person
employer
team leader
colleague
manager
partner
employee

5. Self - principles and values
Family
Patients
Who are we responsible to?
Colleagues and team
Society as a whole
NHS

6. 4 ethical principles Beneficence - doing good
Non maleficence - not doing harm
Justice - fairness (distributive justice)
Respect for autonomy - decision should be informed, competent, not coerced

7. 4 moral theories Virtue - innate character attributes
Duties - rules of moral conduct
Utility - the greatest good of the greatest number
Rights - people are intrinsically entitled to certain things/services

8. GMC - duties of a doctor
Recognise limits of your professional competence
Be honest and trustworthy
Respect and protect confidential information
Don’t let personal beliefs prejudice patients’ care
Act quickly to protect patients if you believe you or a colleague may be unfit to practise
Avoid abusing your position as a doctor
Work with colleagues in ways that best serve patients’ interests
Make care of every patient your first concern
Treat every patient politely and considerately
Respect patients’ dignity and privacy
Listen to patients and respect their views
Give patients info in a way they can understand
Respect their rights to be fully involved in decisions about their care
Keep your knowledge and skills up to date

9. The good general practitioner RCGP, 1985
Awareness of your own values, beliefs and attitudes and how they affect your work
Recognition of the social, cultural and organisational factors affecting their work
Possession and application of ethical principles
Tolerance, respect and flexibility in response to the ideas of others
Willingness to submit work to review by peers and to give and receive criticism
Ability to maintain own physical and mental health
Awareness of factors influencing relationship between their personal and professional life
Willingness to accept responsibility for patients and colleagues in the practice

10. RCGP curriculum chapter 3 – personal and professional responsibilities
Clinical governance
Patient safety
Clinical ethics and values-based practice
Promoting equality and valuing diversity
Evidence based practice
Research and academic activity
Teaching, mentoring and clinical supervision

11. Some other sources of guidance
Law (e g access to medical records, fitness to drive, consent issues, Mental Health Act, employment law, Human Rights Act, Mental Capacity Act)
Contractual (Terms and Conditions of Service, agreements with PCT, practice agreements, contracts of employment)

12. Scenarios for discussion
You may not all agree on an answer
There often isn’t a right answer
Learn to think both broadly and deeply about the issues raised
And find a framework to support your thinking