BACKGROUND: In the United Kingdom, the General Medical Council aims to introduce revalidation for all medical doctors from 2012, in response to public and government pressure. Doctors will submit evidence to support their fitness to practise medicine every 5 years in relation to the four domains and 12 attributes of good medical practice. OBJECTIVE: This article reviews the argument for revalidation, the proposed process and some of the findings of a pilot carried out with general practitioners. DISCUSSION: A revalidation process is being piloted in several parts of the United Kingdom with a view to implementation in 2012. However, there is a lack of evidence internationally that revalidation or relicensure identifies doctors who are performing poorly. The medical profession in Australia needs to reflect on whether this model is one it wishes to consider.
BACKGROUND: In the United Kingdom, the General Medical Council aims to introduce revalidation for all medical doctors from 2012, in response to public and government pressure. Doctors will submit evidence to support their fitness to practise medicine every 5 years in relation to the four domains and 12 attributes of good medical practice. OBJECTIVE: This article reviews the argument for revalidation, the proposed process and some of the findings of a pilot carried out with general practitioners. DISCUSSION: A revalidation process is being piloted in several parts of the United Kingdom with a view to implementation in 2012. However, there is a lack of evidence internationally that revalidation or relicensure identifies doctors who are performing poorly. The medical profession in Australia needs to reflect on whether this model is one it wishes to consider.