Chairing a Student Fitness to Practise Hearing:
Deciding on a Sanction
Jim McKillop
Emeritus Muirhead Professor of Medicine,
University of Glasgow
Deciding on a sanction
• Was the student’s FtP impaired at the time of
the incident?
• Is it still impaired?
Deciding on a sanction
Range of sanctions if FtP impaired
• No action
• Warning
• Undertakings
• Conditions
• Suspension
• Expulsion
Deciding on a sanction
Purpose of a sanction
Not
Deciding on a sanction
Purpose of a sanction
Not
rather
Deciding on a sanction
Guiding principles:
• Proportionate
• Consider all options and impose minimum
sanction that protects patients
• Specific and able to be monitored
Deciding on a sanction
Mitigating factors include
• Insight
• Early acceptance that behaviour unacceptable
• Already taking action to address problem
• Single incident
• Junior student
Deciding on a sanction
Aggravating factors include
• Lack of insight
• Reckless disregard for patient safety
• Exploitation of a vulnerable person
• Behaviour incompatible with being a doctor
• Serious or complex dishonesty
• Multiple incidents or repeat offender
• Criminal conviction
• Senior student
Advising the student of outcome
Sometimes informally after hearing.
Always in writing, specifying
• Decision of committee on FtP and reasons
• Sanction to be applied, including duration
• How any conditions to be monitored
• Time and format of any review
• Appeal mechanisms
• Must be included in GMC application