MDU advice

The MDU adviser explained that probity was taken very seriously by medical schools and the GMC as it raised concerns about a future doctor's professionalism.

Patients must be able to trust those working within the medical profession. This means that medical students and doctors, even in their personal life, must have higher standards of behaviour than those in some other lines of work.

The MDU adviser explained that a caution was an admission of being guilty of a criminal offence, and therefore would show up on a DBS check. They went on to explain that medical schools did have an expectation that students applying for the medical course would disclose any cautions for a criminal offence to them.

Similarly, those students already on the course did have a responsibility to inform their medical school immediately if they received a caution or were charged with, or found guilty of, a criminal offence.

In view of the fact that the student had not declared the caution to the medical school when she applied or once she'd started the course, she was advised that it was possible that the medical school may hold a fitness to practise (FTP) hearing. If so, it was important that she was completely open and honest with the medical school and explained what happened.

The adviser explained that the fact she had not declared the caution may be a more serious concern to the medical school than the original incident that resulted in the caution.

Similarly, the GMC were likely to make their own investigations into not only the original incident, but more importantly the reasons why she had not declared the caution to the medical school or the GMC on her provisional registration form.

When should I declare a police caution?

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When should I declare a police caution?