A Special Two-Part Enquiry
Introduced by Ludovic Kennedy
Part 1
An investigation into medical misconduct, by Christopher Brasher
The offences for which doctors can be disciplined are known as 'the notorious five As': Adultery, Advertising, Association with an unregistered practitioner, Addiction to alcohol or drugs, and Abortion - less frequent since the new Act. The body responsible for striking-off those doctors who offend is the General Medical Council, set up by Act of Parliament in 1858 'for the protection of the public.'
In this film report Christopher Brasher investigates some of the more notorious cases of recent years which pose the question: 'who is really protected - the public or the profession itself? 'He also produces disturbing new evidence which shows that three small children might not have died if proper precautions had been taken over registration and references.
In part 2 at 10.15
Ludovic Kennedy chairs a discussion in which practising doctors and leading members of the medical profession discuss the issues raised in the film report. When should a doctor reveal confidential information? Are the five As appropriate to our society today? And where should the responsibility for protecting the public rest? Should it remain with the profession itself -as it has done since 1858 - or are the issues now so important that they cannot be left to doctors alone?