ABSTRACT
As detailed in this book, self-regulation by the medical profession has been subject to numerous challenges in recent years. This in turn has led to various government initiatives. For example, in its 1999 publication, Supporting Doctors, Protecting Patients, the Department of Health identified the need for a fundamental review of medical self-regulation. The Health Act 1999 empowered the government to reform professional regulation without the need for primary legislation. The NHS Plan of 2000 set out proposals for a Regulatory Councilto coordinate professionalregulatory bodies, as did the 2001 Bristol Inquiry Report.
