BMA Threatens Legal Action Over Physician Associates ‘Experiment’

The British Medical Association (BMA) has threatened legal action against the General Medical Council (GMC), over what it terms its “dangerous blurring of the lines” for NHS patients between qualified doctors and physician associates (PAs). The BMA, the trade union for British doctors, believes the GMC is not the right body to regulate PAs and anaesthesia associates (AAs), who usually complete a two-year course rather than a five year medical degree, although they may also have a degree in a bio-science field. Following recent legislation, the GMC, which is responsible for maintaining the register of those allowed to practise medicine, will also become the regulator of PAs and AAs from December this year....