Good Medical Practice in Paediatrics and Child Health

Good Medical Practice - May 2002Unacceptable practice:• Persistent failure to attempt to address the problem of a failing colleague.• Failure to cooperate with reasonable clinical governance procedures set by the employer.31. If you are suspended from a post or had restrictions put on your practice becauseof concerns about your performance or conduct, you must inform any other organisationsfor whom you undertake work of a similar nature. You must also inform any patients yousee independently of such organisations, if the treatment you provide is within the area ofconcern relating to the suspension or restriction.32. Similarly, you must assist the coroner or procurator fiscal, by responding toinquiries, and by offering all relevant information to an inquest or inquiry into a patient’sdeath. Only where your evidence may lead to criminal proceedings being taken againstyou are you entitled to remain silent.• Paediatricians must be aware of the circumstances in which they should refer a death tothe coroner. The coroners’ requirements may vary from region to region.• Paediatricians should also be aware of the procedures to be undertaken when nonaccidentalor sudden unexplained death occurs.Indemnity insurance33. In your own interests, and those of your patients, you must obtain adequateinsurance or professional indemnity cover for any part of your practice not covered by anemployer’s indemnity scheme.19