On 22 August 2023, the General Medical Council (GMC) published the latest version of Good Medical Practice , its guidance for doctors.1 The guidance will come into effect on 30 January 2024, but it has already been widely debated by doctors on social media. The target of the discussion is the introduction of a requirement to treat patients and colleagues with “kindness, courtesy, and respect.”
Critics of the guidance say “kindness” is too subjective. They say it is patronising. They say it will prevent doctors from speaking out, or sharing unpleasant news. They say it will result in frivolous complaints and referrals to the GMC, with a disproportionate impact on women and doctors trained abroad.
The GMC, at paragraph 23 of its guidance, elaborates on the meaning of “kindness, courtesy, and respect.” It means that …