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GMC 'won't act against' doctors who turn away Americans
The General Medical Council (GMC) has said that it will not act against UK GPs who refuse to treat American and Canadian nationals, medical news site Pulse reports.
Some GPs are said to have been refusing treatment out of concern that legal action could be taken against them in a US court if things go wrong.
Despite reassurances from the Medical Protection Society that this outcome is highly unlikely, the GMC's Fitness to Practice Directorate recently turned down a complaint from a US citizen, who argued that he had been discriminated against when his treatment was refused.
A GMC spokesperson said: 'GMC guidance states that doctors must take out adequate insurance or professional indemnity cover for any part of their practice not covered by an employer's scheme.'
Pulse reports that medical insurance companies who cover general practice do not provide doctors with indemnity cover for action brought in the US, even if it relates to treatment in the UK.
So far, the GMC has declined to reveal how many complaints have been received, or how many people may have been refused treatment by GPs.
Category: Medical Insurance
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