Climate crisis imperils the fabric of life: GMC must review its policies
BMJ 2024; 387 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.q2522 (Published 19 November 2024) Cite this as: BMJ 2024;387:q2522
- Alexander J K Wilkinson, respiratory consultant1,
- Laura-Jane Smith, respiratory consultant2,
- Frances Mortimer, medical director3
- 1East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, Respiratory Department, Lister Hospital, Stevenage, UK
- 2King's College Hospital, London, UK
- 3Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, Oxford, UK
- wilkie{at}doctors.org.uk
The General Medical Council emphasises the relevant policies and laws it must follow,1 but tremendous injustices can be committed by unthinkingly “following procedure.” Extraordinary circumstances provide important opportunities to reflect on whether policies remain fit for purpose.
The GMC shouldn’t judge the fairness of a law, but it must decide if public trust is damaged when laws are broken. If a law—pushed by powerful fossil fuel interests—is widely seen as unjust, breaking it might not undermine trust. In 2023, government officials …
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