Good Medical Practice should improve patient safety

Abstract

PurposeWith the new emphasis on patient safety in the General Medical Council's revised guidelines on good medical practice, this article seeks to draw doctors' awareness to their duties in this regard.Design/methodology/approachThis article looks at recent important publications relating to medical professionalism, paying particular attention to the patient‐safety agenda. The main focus is on two key documents published in 2006 – the GMC's Good Medical Practice and the CMO's consultation document, Good Doctors, Safer Patients.FindingsThe article finds that attention to patient safety is considered an important aspect of good medical practice, yet there is evidence that the medical profession is lagging behind in embracing the concept of reporting adverse incidents. This is particularly apparent in the primary‐care sector.Practical implicationsIf doctors do not demonstrate a commitment to patient‐safety initiatives, their registration may be at risk.Originality/valueThis article highlights an aspect of the duties of a doctor that many in the medical profession may be unaware of.