PLAB 2 GMC Good Medical Practice & Professional Standards

Question 1

A junior doctor notices that a consultant colleague regularly arrives to ward rounds smelling of alcohol and appearing unsteady. What is the most appropriate first action?

Accepted Answer

Report the concern to your clinical supervisor or the medical director

Answer

Confront the consultant privately and ask them to leave the ward

Answer

Ignore the situation as it is not your responsibility to report consultants

Answer

Document your observations and wait to see if the behaviour continues

Question 2

Under GMC Good Medical Practice, which of the following best describes the duty of candour?

Accepted Answer

Doctors must tell patients about any mistake that has caused or may cause harm, apologise, and explain what will be done to prevent recurrence

Answer

Doctors must only disclose errors to their supervising consultant and never directly to patients

Answer

Doctors are encouraged but not required to disclose errors if the patient is unlikely to find out

Answer

Doctors must complete an incident report form but are not obliged to speak to the patient directly

Question 3

A GP is treating a patient who is also a close friend. The patient requests a prescription for a controlled drug for pain relief after a minor procedure. What is the most appropriate action?

Accepted Answer

Decline to prescribe and arrange for the patient to be seen by another doctor

Answer

Prescribe as requested because you know the patient well and trust them

Answer

Prescribe a smaller quantity than requested as a compromise

Answer

Only prescribe if a second doctor countersigns the prescription

Question 4

According to GMC guidance, what is a doctor's responsibility regarding maintaining their medical knowledge and skills?

Accepted Answer

Doctors must keep their knowledge and skills up to date throughout their careers and participate in continuing professional development

Answer

Doctors are only required to update their knowledge when their appraisal identifies a specific deficit

Answer

Doctors need only keep up to date in their specialty area and not in general medicine

Answer

Updating knowledge is encouraged but carries no professional obligation under GMC standards

Question 5

A doctor receives a gift of significant value from a patient who is grateful for their care. What is the most appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

Decline the gift politely, explaining that accepting gifts of significant value is not consistent with professional boundaries

Answer

Accept the gift as refusing it would offend the patient and damage the therapeutic relationship

Answer

Accept the gift but declare it in the hospital's gifts register

Answer

Accept the gift only if it is offered after the episode of care has ended

Question 6

A doctor working in A&E is approached by a journalist asking for details about a celebrity patient admitted after a road traffic accident. What should the doctor do?

Accepted Answer

Decline to provide any information and direct the journalist to the hospital communications team

Answer

Provide basic factual information only, as this is in the public interest

Answer

Confirm the patient's admission but provide no clinical details

Answer

Refer the journalist to the patient directly so they can decide what to share

Question 7

According to GMC guidance on social media, which of the following is a doctor's professional responsibility?

Accepted Answer

Doctors must maintain patient confidentiality and not post information that could identify a patient, even if posted in their personal capacity

Answer

Doctors are free to post about patients on personal social media accounts as long as they do not name the patient

Answer

Doctors may share clinical photos on professional networking sites without patient consent if educational value is high

Answer

GMC social media guidance only applies to posts made during working hours