The General Medical Council (GMC) is launching new guidance for doctors in relation to children and young people in autumn 2007.

The GMC have been consulting children, young people and a wide range of stakeholders on the guidance, which states that doctors must always act in the best interests of children and young people and take into account their views. It covers a wide range of issues including confidentiality; assessing a young person’s ability to make decisions about their treatment; child protection; sexual activity and contraception.

The development of the guidance has been taking place since 2005. During the development process the GMC have involved a wide range of people. One example of the various methods used to get feedback was a Citizen’s Jury. The resulting report is called ‘When should doctors share information about children?’ and is accessible at http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/.

Poster competition
During the consultation period, the GMC also ran a poster competition in which children and young people were asked to design a poster depicting how they would like to be treated by their doctor.

The winners in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were awarded an iPod. The UK winner also got to meet Helen Flanagan, Coronation Street’s Rosie Webster, on the set of the famous soap opera.

UK winner
The winning design, by Paul McAleenan aged 13 from Northern Ireland, was chosen from 550 UK entries. Helen Flanagan presented Paul McAleenan from County Down with his prize of an iPod on the set of Coronation Street.

Read more about Paul’s winning entry. (GMC press office website.)

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