FEATURE
Striving for
Balance
College adopts Right Touch
Regulation approach
‘Right-touch regulation is based on a proper evaluation of risk, is proportionate and outcome
focused; it creates a framework in which professionalism can flourish and organisations
can be excellent’ – The Professional Standards Authority
I
t’s another busy night at a hospital
emergency department, and two physi-
cians end up exchanging fiery words
with each other in front of patients and
other colleagues.
While the behaviour is not professional and
certainly does not reflect well on either physi-
cian, it could be argued that this is not a matter
in which the College needs to be directly in-
volved. In fact, it may be the type of matter that
is most effectively managed at the hospital level.
If the antagonism between the two physicians
is ongoing and escalates to the point where pa-
tients are placed in harm’s way and the hospital
is unable to manage the situation, then a solid
argument could be made for regulatory inter-
vention.
This approach is an example of right
touch regulation, which has been adopted
by a number of regulatory bodies across the
world. Because the regulator is usually furthest
removed from the harm it is trying to prevent,
ISSUE 3, 2018 DIALOGUE
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