Suicide whilst under GMC's fitness to practise investigation: Were those deaths preventable?

• Published in: Journal of forensic and legal medicine 2016-01, Vol.37, p.22-27
• Main Authors: Casey, David, Choong, Kartina A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Coroner; Coroners and Medical Examiners; Duty of care; Employee Discipline; Fitness to practise; General Medical Council; Humans; Investigations; Legislation; Pathology; Physicians; Physicians - statistics & numerical data; Professional Role; Reforms; Suicide; Suicide - prevention & control; Suicide - statistics & numerical data; Suicides & suicide attempts; United Kingdom
• ISSN: 1752-928X; 1878-7487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2015.10.002

Abstract The suicide of doctors under regulatory investigation in the United Kingdom has recently been under scrutiny. Despite a commissioned report into the issues surrounding these deaths, we discuss a variety of procedural and legal lacunae not yet openly considered for reform. We identified that the UK coronial system has in place several legal instruments requiring coroners to report the physician suicides as preventable to the regulatory body, the General Medical Council (GMC). We were unable to identify that these suicides were reported in line with established legislation. We also explored the relationship between the GMC and its registered doctors, concluding that the GMC does indeed have a duty of care towards its members on this important matter and that there should be procedural reform to tackle the inherent risk of suicide whilst under investigation.