Medical news in brief: Legal threat over MRCP error, new endometriosis pill, sexual assault referrals rise, and other stories
BMJ 2025; 388 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.r530 (Published 20 March 2025) Cite this as: BMJ 2025;388:r530
Endometriosis
Daily hormone combination pill is approved
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has recommended relugolix combination therapy—a combination of relugolix, estradiol, and norethisterone—as a treatment option for adults with endometriosis who are of reproductive age and have had medical or surgical treatment but continue to experience symptoms. The daily pill works by blocking hormones that contribute to endometriosis, while simultaneously providing necessary hormone replacement. It can be taken at home, does not require regular clinic visits, and can be stopped and started more easily than the injectable treatments currently available. (Full story doi:10.1136/bmj.r520)
MRCP exam error
BMA threatens legal action
The BMA has announced plans to take legal action over an error that affected nearly 300 candidates who sat part 2 of the membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) exam in September 2023. Sixty one doctors who were originally told they had failed were informed 18 months later that they had passed, while 222 doctors who were told they had passed were belatedly informed that they had failed. Philip Banfield, BMA chair of council, said that the error was a scandal and meant that experienced doctors were being forced to put their careers on hold. (Full story doi:10.1136/bmj.r475)
Screening
Thousands missed routine screening because of error
More than 5000 people missed out on …
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