There's some good news to report today. Doctors will lose the right to police themselves, at least if the UK government has its way. That probably is a good idea. For justice to be done it needs also to be seen to be done. A profession that essentially polices itself is about as credible an arbiter in conflicts between patients and doctors as an insurance industry having a policing body made up of insurance sales persons. Being a professional means to serve the public good. In return for us as society conceding a great deal of professional autonomy to doctors we expect a substantial degree of accountability in return. This objective was never met under the current regime. Change has long been overdue.
