Clin Med
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Whilst patients and doctors each bring a collection of rights and responsibilities with them into the consulting room, these parties must not be seen in isolation. The government of the day and its representatives have an absolute right to influence the future direction of the health service but they also have very grave responsibilities.
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The aim of revalidation is to reassure the public that doctors are up to date and fit to practise. The Royal College of Physicians has developed various programmes of work, both ongoing and under development, in support of revalidation. ⋯ These methods include ways of assessing both professional standards and clinical competence. Although the conclusions of the Chief Medical Officer in terms of the absolute requirements for revalidation are still unknown, the College is committed to supporting its Members and Fellows to prepare for revalidation through setting educational, professional and clinical standards in medicine.
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Our society is very concerned with endowing and protecting people's rights and the existence of a National Health Service in this country has allowed such concepts to be applied to medical care. It is not clear, however, whether the concept of rights helps either doctors or patients, and it may in fact be misleading or even damaging. ⋯ The way in which rights create corresponding duties and responsibilities, and the particular problems that this creates for our health service is also addressed. Finally, in the light of the ongoing changes in the doctor-patient relationship, the future balance of rights and responsibilities in healthcare and the impact this will have on clinical decision-making is discussed.