New guidance on how to treat cases of sexual misconduct by doctors has been released.
It follows criticism of the body that is meant to determine whether doctors are fit to practise in the UK.
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) had been accused of failing to apply appropriate sanctions in cases involving sexual misconduct.
The MPTS says it hopes the fresh guidance will support consistent and well-reasoned decisions.
Last month research found in nearly a quarter of cases involving sexual misconduct, the MPTS imposed sanctions on doctors that were more lenient than those recommended by the regulator, the General Medical Council (GMC).
The criticism was based on the outcomes of 46 cases with offences including harassment, rape, and assaults of patients, colleagues and children.
Some medics were handed suspensions instead of following GMC advice to strike them off the medical register.
At the time, the Royal College of Surgeons accused the MPTS of failing victims and compounding the trauma they had suffered.
Source: BBC News, 1 October 2025
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