I read the Lancet Editorial about the General Medical Council's (GMC's) handling of the Jack Adcock case with interest (April 14, p 1456).1 Having met with hundreds of doctors over the past few months, it is clear that the Jack Adcock case has been a lightning rod for a range of issues facing the profession. The GMC's part in that case, after coroner and criminal court proceedings, was not taken lightly. As an independent regulator we are frequently called upon to make decisions that are not popular with doctors, and sometimes patients.