Medical Act 1858

Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (variant 1, 1952-2022)

Medical Act 1858

The Medical Act 1858 was a significant piece of legislation in the United Kingdom that aimed to regulate the medical profession. The Act established the General Medical Council (GMC), which was responsible for maintaining a register of qualified medical practitioners. This register was intended to ensure that only those with appropriate qualifications and training could practice medicine, thereby protecting the public from unqualified practitioners.

Background

Before the enactment of the Medical Act 1858, the medical profession in the UK was largely unregulated. Various medical practitioners, including physicians, surgeons, and apothecaries, operated under different systems of training and qualification. This lack of standardization led to inconsistencies in the quality of medical care and made it difficult for the public to distinguish between qualified and unqualified practitioners.

Provisions of the Act

The Medical Act 1858 introduced several key provisions:

• **Establishment of the General Medical Council**: The Act created the General Medical Council (GMC), which was tasked with maintaining a register of qualified medical practitioners. The GMC was also given the authority to set standards for medical education and practice.
• **Medical Register**: The Act required the creation of a Medical Register, listing all individuals who were qualified to practice medicine in the UK. Only those listed on the register were legally permitted to use the title "doctor" or practice medicine.
• **Qualifications and Training**: The Act set out the qualifications and training required for entry onto the Medical Register. This included degrees from recognized medical schools and institutions.
• **Disciplinary Powers**: The GMC was granted the power to remove practitioners from the register if they were found guilty of misconduct or incompetence.

Impact

The Medical Act 1858 had a profound impact on the medical profession in the UK. It helped to standardize medical education and practice, ensuring that only those with appropriate qualifications could practice medicine. This, in turn, improved the quality of medical care and increased public trust in the medical profession.

Subsequent Legislation

The Medical Act 1858 has been amended and updated by various subsequent pieces of legislation. Notable amendments include the Medical Act 1886, which further refined the qualifications required for medical practitioners, and the Medical Act 1983, which introduced additional regulatory measures.

See Also

• General Medical Council
• Medical Register
• Medical Act 1886
• Medical Act 1983
• History of medicine