PLAB 2 GMC Good Medical Practice & Professional Standards 3

Question 1

A doctor is asked by a medical research team to access clinical records of their own patients to identify potential research participants without patient consent. What should the doctor do?

Accepted Answer

Decline to provide identifiable data without patient consent or appropriate ethical and legal authority

Answer

Patient data cannot be used for research without either patient consent or a legal basis approved by the relevant ethics committee, even when the research may have broader benefits.

Question 2

What does the GMC mean by 'working collaboratively' with colleagues?

Accepted Answer

Communicating clearly, treating colleagues with respect, contributing to team work, and supporting the development of less experienced colleagues

Answer

GMC Good Medical Practice describes working collaboratively as involving mutual respect, clear communication, and supporting and developing colleagues to improve patient care.

Question 3

A patient complains formally about the care they received from a doctor. According to GMC guidance, how should the doctor respond?

Accepted Answer

Engage with the complaints process honestly and constructively, and use the experience to reflect and improve practice

Answer

GMC guidance requires doctors to respond honestly and constructively to complaints, to reflect on what happened, and to treat the experience as an opportunity to learn and improve.

Question 4

Under GMC guidance, what is a doctor's responsibility when delegating tasks to other healthcare professionals?

Accepted Answer

The delegating doctor must ensure the person they delegate to has the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out the task safely

Answer

GMC Good Medical Practice states that when delegating, doctors retain a responsibility to ensure the person they delegate to is competent to perform the task, and overall accountability is not extinguished by delegation.

Question 5

A doctor discovers that a colleague has been falsifying patient records to cover up a clinical error. What is the most appropriate action?

Accepted Answer

Report the concern to the clinical governance team, medical director or via the trust's whistleblowing policy without delay

Answer

Falsifying records is a serious breach of GMC standards that puts patients at risk; the GMC requires doctors to raise such concerns promptly through appropriate channels regardless of personal consequences.

PLAB 2 Practice Test

PLAB 2 Practice Test

PLAB 2 GMC Good Medical Practice & Professional Standards 3