the Medical Council. As far as possible, tell your patients about the temporary arrangements that will be in place during your absence. (See also paragraph 23 on handover of patient care.) 56.3.2
If you work in a rota system, you should make sure that there is clear communication among the participants, particularly when care is handed over at the beginning and end of shifts. Each person should know who is on duty at any given time. (See paragraph 22.)
56.4 Participating in recruitment panels 56.4.1
If you are involved in recruiting doctors, you should be fair and objective in your assessment of candidates. You should understand and comply with requirements of the employment equality legislation.
57 Professional indemnity 57.1 You must have adequate professional indemnity cover for all healthcare services you provide30.
58 Health and well-being of doctors 58.1 You have an ethical responsibility to look after your own health and well-being. You should not treat or prescribe for yourself. You should have your own general practitioner, who is not a member of your family, and you should be vaccinated against common communicable diseases. 58.2 If you have an illness which could be a risk to patients or which could seriously impair your judgement, you must consult an appropriately-qualified professional and follow their advice. This professional will have a dual role: to help and counsel you, and to make sure you do not pose a risk to patients and others. If such a risk exists, you must inform the Medical Council as soon as possible.
59 Concerns about a colleague’s abuse of alcohol or drugs or other health problems 59.1 If you are concerned about a colleague’s health or professional competence due to the misuse of alcohol or drugs, a physical or psychological disorder or other factors, your primary duty is to protect patients. If there is a risk to patient safety, you must inform the relevant authority of your concerns without delay. If there is no current risk, you should support your colleague by advising them to seek expert professional help or to consider referral to the Medical Council’s Health Committee.
60 Treatment of relatives 60.1 You should not treat or prescribe for members of your family or others with whom you have a close personal relationship except in emergencies. You must not prescribe controlled substances for them or issue sick certificates or reports for them except in emergencies. The Medical Practitioners (Professional Indemnity) (Amendment) Bill, if passed and enacted will require the Council to define categories of practitioners who will be legally required to obtain professional indemnity or insurance and to provide evidence [to the Council] that they hold the minimum level of medical indemnity insurance.
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Chapter 4 - Practice