New tribunal guidance after doctor avoids ban over 'one-off rape'

Credit: Getty Images/Stígur Karlsson

By Claudia Tanner

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service has introduced a new sanctions framework for handling serious allegations against doctors, following criticism that tribunals have been "too lenient" on sexual misconduct cases.

The updated guidance, effective from November, introduces sanctions bandings for the first time – providing clear ranges of expected outcomes based on whether a doctor poses low, medium or high risk to the public.