Developing and maintaining professional standards: a personal view

Abstract

The influence of medical culture and beliefs on the management of colleagues who pose risks of patient harm resulting from clinical errors or inappropriate behaviours is discussed. The importance of an evidence-based approach to the promotion of an ethos that is both conducive to openness and learning and that allows shortcomings to be identified and addressed is emphasised. A culture based on these principles is regarded as being fundamental to the development and maintenance of high standards of professional practice and conduct. Professional and social isolation of individual doctors, particularly of graduates from other countries, poses risks to both the doctors and patients and the mitigation of these risks is discussed. The need to address the mental wellbeing of doctors who are subject to complaints and/or investigations cannot be over-emphasised as there is a significant risk of self-harm in these situations.