SJT Textbook: Personal Beliefs & Medical Practice
GMC Personal Beliefs and Medical Practice
This GMC personal beliefs medical practice guidance explains how doctors must balance professional duties with personal convictions while ensuring fair, non-discriminatory patient care.
🎥 Video Lesson (YouTube)
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🎯 THE CORE PRINCIPLE
Doctors inevitably have personal, moral, religious, or cultural beliefs, but these must never interfere with the quality, fairness, or availability of care. GMC guidance requires all doctors to treat patients respectfully, avoid discrimination, and make clinical decisions based on evidence — not judgement, values, or lifestyle opinions.
Patients also have beliefs that may shape their decisions. Doctors must respect these, support autonomy, provide neutral information, and avoid imposing their own views. Conscientious objection is permitted only in limited circumstances and must never obstruct access to appropriate care.
The MSRA SJT frequently tests boundaries: fairness, dignity, non-discrimination, handling value conflicts, supporting patient choice, and ensuring continuity of care when conscientious objection applies.
GMC personal beliefs medical practice rules prevent discrimination in clinical care.
🧩 KEY PRINCIPLES (MSRA SJT Interpretation)
1. Treat all patients fairly, respectfully, and without discrimination
Core idea: No judgement, assumptions, or bias based on lifestyle, religion, gender, sexuality, disability, or beliefs. Exam cues:
* “Treat patients as individuals”
* “Provide care based on clinical need, not personal opinion”
2. Do not allow personal beliefs to obstruct care
Core idea: Personal convictions must not affect clinical decisions, communication, or access. Examples:
* Reproductive health
* End-of-life care
* Gender identity
* Substance use Red flags:
* Withholding treatment due to disapproval
3. Conscientious objection is allowed only with safeguards
Core idea: Doctors may object to certain procedures but must not leave patients without access. High-yield rules:
* You must explain your objection sensitively
* You must refer or ensure another clinician can provide care
* You cannot refuse based on judgement or discrimination
* No delay or barriers to access Examples where objection may apply:
* Termination of pregnancy
* Contraception (in specific rare contexts)
* Ritual circumcision (not clinically necessary)
4. Respect patients’ beliefs, values, and decisions
Core idea: Patients’ cultural, spiritual, and religious beliefs influence their choices. Exam cues:
* Shared decision-making
* Understanding context and values
* Respecting informed refusal even if you disagree
5. Do not impose your own beliefs
Core idea: Avoid expressing personal beliefs in a way that pressures or judges the patient. Allowed:
* Discussing beliefs if asked and relevant Not allowed:
* Steering decisions based on your values
* Criticising patient choices
6. Children’s best interests come first
Core idea: When parents’ beliefs conflict with a child’s best interests, safeguarding duties may override parental beliefs. Examples:
* Vaccination refusal
* Refusal of life-saving treatment
* Ritual procedures without benefit
7. Comply with equality and discrimination laws
Core idea: Protected characteristics (Equality Act 2010) include age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation. Exam cues:
* Treat all groups equally
* Avoid comments influenced by personal views
8. Provide neutral, evidence-based communication
Core idea: Give clear information, avoid judgement, and ensure the patient can make an informed choice.
MSRA SJT frequently tests breaches of GMC personal beliefs medical practice guidance.
⚡ HIGH-YIELD ACTIONS (What Scores Points)
1. Provide respectful, unbiased, clinically appropriate care.
2. Acknowledge and explore the patient’s beliefs without judgement.
3. Avoid imposing your own values or preferences.
4. Provide clear, neutral information to support decisions.
5. If objecting, ensure seamless onward referral without delay.
6. Document discussions clearly and professionally.
7. Seek senior or ethics/legal advice in complex belief-related conflicts.
8. Prioritise the child’s best interests in paediatric scenarios.
9. Reflect on how personal beliefs might influence behaviour.
10. Treat all patients with dignity regardless of lifestyle or choices.
GMC personal beliefs medical practice allows conscientious objection only with safe onward referral.
* Delaying or obstructing access to care
* Imposing personal religious or cultural views
* Discriminatory comments or assumptions
* Refusing referral during conscientious objection
* Judging patient choices (e.g., reproductive, sexual health, addiction)
* Pressuring patients to adopt your beliefs
* Allowing beliefs to affect standard of care
Theme: low-scoring answers impose beliefs, limit access, or discriminate..
Failure to follow GMC personal beliefs medical practice guidance risks professional sanctions.
💬 MODEL PHRASES (Use These in SJT Logic)
* “I respect your beliefs and want to understand what matters to you.”
* “I cannot provide this treatment, but I will arrange for a colleague who can.”
* “I will provide neutral, evidence-based information to support your decision.”
* “Your beliefs are important, and we will take them into account.”
* “I cannot impose my own beliefs on your care.”
Children’s best interests override belief-based refusals under GMC personal beliefs medical practice.
B – Bias avoided
E – Evidence-based decisions
L – Listen to patient values
I – Impose no personal beliefs
E – Ensure access even with objection
F – Fair, equal treatment
S – Safeguard children’s best interests
A – Alternative clinician arranged if objecting
F – Follow equality laws
E – Explain neutrally without judgement
📋 QUICK FAQ
Can I refuse treatment because of personal beliefs?
Yes, for specific procedures — but you must ensure timely alternative care. Can I discuss my own beliefs?
Only if the patient asks and it is relevant; it must never pressure them. Do patients’ beliefs override clinical judgement?
Patients can refuse treatment, but doctors must act in a child’s best interests. Is discrimination ever justified?
No — protected characteristics must not influence care. What if a patient refuses treatment due to religious reasons?
Respect autonomy → support safe decision-making → check capacity.
📚 GMC ANCHOR POINTS
* Fairness, respect, dignity
* Equality Act 2010
* Conscientious objection rules
* Non-discrimination
* Respect for patients’ beliefs
* Best interests of children
* Avoiding imposition of personal beliefs
💡 MINI PRACTICE SCENARIO
A patient refuses a blood transfusion due to religious beliefs. You disagree and feel strongly that refusal is unsafe. Best action: Respect their decision if they have capacity, explore concerns, ensure they understand risks, and document clearly. Why: Autonomy and belief-based refusal must be respected if capacity is intact.
🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS
✓ Treat all patients fairly and without judgement.
✓ Respect patients’ beliefs — avoid imposing your own.
✓ Conscientious objection requires safe onward referral.
✓ Autonomy must be respected (adults with capacity).
✓ Children’s best interests override parental belief-based refusal.
✓ Care must remain evidence-based and non-discriminatory.
✓ Neutral communication and documentation are essential.
🔗 RELATED TOPICS
* → Equality, diversity & non-discrimination
* → Consent & capacity
* → Safeguarding (children’s best interests)
* → Boundaries & professionalism
* → End-of-life care decisions
* → Conscientious objection
📖 FULL PRACTICE QUESTIONS
Example SJT — Best of 3 (8 options; choose three)
A GP declines to prescribe contraception due to personal beliefs but does not signpost the patient elsewhere.
Options:
A. Explain the reason sensitively and arrange a colleague to provide care
B. Decline without explanation
C. Encourage the patient to consider abstinence
D. Document the discussion neutrally
E. Refer the patient promptly to another clinician
F. Tell the patient contraception is morally wrong
G. Delay the referral because you’re uncomfortable
H. Decline to provide treatment with no referral
Correct three: A, D, E
• A: Respectful explanation and onward referral.
• D: Accurate documentation.
• E: Ensures timely access to care.
Why others are weaker/wrong:
• B/C/F/G/H: Unprofessional, judgemental, discriminatory, or obstructive.
Example SJT — Rank 5 (best → worst)
A parent refuses emergency treatment for their child due to religious beliefs.
Options:
A. Prioritise the child’s best interests and escalate for urgent care
B. Explore the parent’s concerns respectfully
C. Seek senior/ethics advice immediately
D. Respect refusal and do nothing
E. Delay treatment to avoid upsetting the parent
Ideal order: A (1) > C (2) > B (3) > E (4) > D (5)
• A: Children’s best interests always come first.
• C: Appropriate support.
• B: Important but not first-line in emergencies.
• E/D: Unsafe delays and failure to act.