General Medical Council

The complainant has requested a list of medical experts used by the GMC for its activities. The GMC refused this request as it considered the information to be the personal data of third parties (section 40(2)) and that disclosure would be likely to prejudice the GMC’s regulatory functions, in this case its investigation of doctor’s fitness to practice (section 31(1)(g) leading to 31(2)(d)).The Commissioner’s decision is that the GMC has correctly applied the section 31(1)(g) exemption and the public interest favours withholding the requested information.