Medical law review
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A recent Law Commission Review emphasised that medical fitness to practise panels (also called medical practitioners tribunals) are an important legal mechanism for ensuring that public trust in medical regulation is maintained when a complaint is made against a doctor. This article examines trends over time in panel outcomes to identify their effectiveness in ensuring public protection. ⋯ It is argued that these trends are congruent with the broader adoption of a risk-based approach to professional regulation. Legal reforms to maintain public trust must ensure that the shift towards risk-averse forms of professional accountability do not sacrifice public safety and due process for the sake of political pragmatic exigency.