Duty of candour
The GMC updated their professional duty of candour guidance in December 2024. They require healthcare professionals to:
Be open and honest with their colleagues, employers and relevant organisations, and take part in reviews and investigations when requested.
It is a revalidation requirement for you to include and reflect on any such reviews and investigations in your appraisal.
The GMC says:
As a doctor, AA or PA you must be open and honest with patients, colleagues and your employers. The professional duty of candour guidance makes clear the need for honesty with patients after healthcare harm, and the importance of contributing to a learning culture to improve patient safety and make sure lessons are learned. You have a responsibility under the duty of candour to log incidents and events according to the reporting process within your organisation.
It is your responsibility to act in accordance with the GMC Duty of Care to report concerns. Your appraiser should provide you with support and can signpost the correct steps for you to take, but it is your responsibility to act in accordance with the GMC guidance.
Research
The GMC's guidance on good practice in research came into effect in December 2024.
In the latest version of Good medical practice the GMC states that:
Research is vital in improving our understanding of health conditions, and increasing the availability of options for effective prevention, treatment, and care. You should consider opportunities to conduct or participate in research that may benefit current and/or future patients, and help to improve the health of the population. You should tell patients if you’re aware of opportunities for them to participate in appropriate research.
Your appraisal is a good chance for you to include reference to, and reflect on, any research opportunities you have had in the previous year. It could also form part of your PDP for the year to come.
Social media
Your duty as a medical professional extends to all your communications, including on social media. The GMC has produced supplementary guidance on using social media to accompany their updated Good medical practice.
Make sure you familiarise yourself with the new guidance and adhere to it alongside using your professional judgement in all your interactions on social media.