A statutory body in the UK with equal numbers of appointed medical practitioners and lay members given the responsibility of protecting patients and guiding doctors in their professional practice. Set up by parliament in 1858 – at the request of the medical profession, which was concerned by the large numbers of untrained people practising as doctors – the GMC is responsible for setting educational and professional standards; maintaining a register of qualified practitioners; and disciplining doctors who fail to maintain appropriate professional standards, by prosecuting them before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service which has the power to place conditions on their practice or temporarily or permanently remove them from the Medical Register if their fitness to practise is judged to be impaired by misconduct, ill-health, poor performance or lack of knowledge of English.

The Council is funded by doctors’ annual fees. Entry on the register shows that the doctor holds a recognised primary medical qualification and is committed to upholding the profession's values. Doctors also have to show their continuing fitness to practise according to the professional attributes laid down by the GMC, with their license having to be revalidated every 5 years. Like the General Dental Council, the GMC is answerable to the PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AUTHORITY.