Medical professionalism is threatened with extinction. Immediate action is needed to avert this danger. The undersigned doctors and patients believe that trust in the unique doctor–patient relationship is the bedrock of medical practice.
We oppose the proposals for regulation of the profession presented by the CMO Sir Liam Donaldson.
The oppressive proposals would translate into doctors practising medicine in a climate of mistrust and fear. We believe that medicine in the 21st century should be practised in partnership with patients: it is to patients that good doctors wish to be primarily accountable — not to the government of the day.
The GMC must remain an independent body, transparent and accountable to parliament; it should not become an instrument of the DoH; its members should not be appointed but elected by medical professionals.
See the whole letter at www.gopetition.com/online/9679.html
