GMC lawyers - defence lawyers for doctors

Representing doctors

Our lawyers understand the needs and anxieties of doctors facing serious allegations and whose practice and livelihood is at risk. We recognise the need for urgent, specialist advice from lawyers with genuine experience of defending similar cases. We act for clients nationwide and we also regularly act for clients who are based overseas but are registered with the GMC. We have experience of acting for doctors working within the NHS and those working in private practice. For examples of our recent work in this area, please visit our GMC case studies page.

Our lawyers have experience of representing doctors in relation to the full range of regulatory matters. Our experience includes the following:

• Advising doctors in relation to NHSE investigations, including Practitioner Performance Advice (PPA) referrals, Performance Assessment Group (PAG) meetings and Performers List Decision Panel (PLDP) hearings
• Assisting doctors with notifications to the GMC regarding reportable events
• Providing specialist advice during the course of GMC investigations
• Advising on requests by the GMC for disclosure of records and other information
• Attendance at meetings at the GMC’s offices
• Preparation of responses to rule 7 letters
• Advising on the suitability of warnings and undertakings
• Representation at interim orders tribunal hearings before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS)
• Applications for early reviews of interim orders
• Advising on GMC applications to the High Court to extend interim orders
• Representation at fitness to practise hearings before the MPTS
• Appeals to the High Court against decisions of the MPTS
• Applications for restoration to the Medical Register following erasure

Our experience

Our expertise in this area is wide-ranging and we regularly deal with the full range of fitness to practise issues, including:

• Serious clinical incidents
• Surgical errors
• Prescribing errors
• Diagnostic errors
• Poor treatment management
• Cosmetic and other elective procedures
• Record-keeping
• Financial misconduct, both within and outside of clinical practice
• Dishonesty
• Sexually-motivated misconduct, relating to both colleagues and patients
• Inappropriate use of social media
• Drug & alcohol dependency
• Impairment on the basis of mental health
• Breaches of agreed undertakings
• Breaches of interim conditions of practice
• Criminal convictions for serious offences

In addition to our experience of dealing with GMC investigations and fitness to practise proceedings, we also have experience of assisting clients with issues relating to applications for registration, specialist registration and sub-speciality recognition.

It is important that you seek specialist advice before responding to correspondence from the GMC. Any response which is made needs to be carefully considered in order to protect your interests and to avoid prejudicing your defence. For a confidential, no-obligation discussion regarding your case, contact one of our specialist GMC lawyers on 0161 696 6250. Alternatively please complete our online enquiry form and a member of the professional discipline team will contact you as a matter of urgency.