Clin Med
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The aim of revalidation is to reassure the public that doctors are up to date and fit to practise. The Royal College of Physicians has developed various programmes of work, both ongoing and under development, in support of revalidation. ⋯ These methods include ways of assessing both professional standards and clinical competence. Although the conclusions of the Chief Medical Officer in terms of the absolute requirements for revalidation are still unknown, the College is committed to supporting its Members and Fellows to prepare for revalidation through setting educational, professional and clinical standards in medicine.
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Our society is very concerned with endowing and protecting people's rights and the existence of a National Health Service in this country has allowed such concepts to be applied to medical care. It is not clear, however, whether the concept of rights helps either doctors or patients, and it may in fact be misleading or even damaging. ⋯ The way in which rights create corresponding duties and responsibilities, and the particular problems that this creates for our health service is also addressed. Finally, in the light of the ongoing changes in the doctor-patient relationship, the future balance of rights and responsibilities in healthcare and the impact this will have on clinical decision-making is discussed.
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Medical specialty training is changing which will result in shorter, more focused training programmes. Senior house officer posts will disappear from August 2007, and be replaced by training posts and trust grade doctors. ⋯ Curricula development and delivery with quality assurance is now the responsibility of a new training board--the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB). There is an opportunity to create a new specialty of acute medicine to help meet the crisis of care for acutely ill patients in our hospitals.