Dominic Hughes<\/span>Health correspondent<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Last month we reported on research that found in nearly a quarter of cases involving sexual misconduct, the MPTS imposed sanctions on doctors that were more lenient than those recommended by the regulator, the General Medical Council (GMC). <\/p>\n The criticism was based on the outcomes of 46 cases with offences including harassment, rape, and assaults of patients, colleagues and children.<\/p>\n Some medics were handed suspensions instead of following GMC advice to strike them off the medical register.<\/p>\n At the time, the Royal College of Surgeons accused the MPTS of failing victims and compounding the trauma they had suffered. <\/p>\n Now there is new guidance for these types of cases, including more detail about how to assess the seriousness of allegations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gill Edelman, who is interim chair of the MPTS, says she hopes the new guidance will support consistent and well-reasoned decisions in cases of sexual misconduct.<\/p>\n “Hearings involving allegations of sexual misconduct remain an area of scrutiny and concern,” she said.<\/p>\n “We recognise the impact tribunal decisions have on doctors and on complainants.<\/p>\n “It is therefore paramount that our tribunals reach fair, proportionate and transparent decisions and that there is clarity for all concerned in the range of outcomes that can be expected.”<\/p>\n The new guidance means that for the first time, the members of the tribunal will have to consider what are described as “sanctions bandings”. <\/p>\n That is meant to indicate the range of outcomes that can be expected in different types of cases, once a tribunal has decided whether a doctor poses a low, medium or high level risk to the public.<\/p>\n There is also more detail about assessing how serious an allegation is, and what features may increase seriousness. <\/p>\n For example, allegations involving sexual assault, improper relationships or violence will usually fall at the higher end of the spectrum. <\/p>\n The guidance also means that persistent or repeated behaviour, and behaviour directed towards a vulnerable person, may increase seriousness.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"Getty](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/49bc\/live\/d90686a0-9eb8-11f0-8e3d-5bce5d982785.jpg.webp\")
Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n‘An area of scrutiny and concern’<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
A system that compounds trauma<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n