“I hate, hate, hate being pushed around.” This reaction, from Brisbane GP Dr Jane Atkinson, captures the visceral sentiments expressed by many doctors when confronted with the Medical Board of Australia’s vision for the future of CPD.

The board’s consultation paper was slipped out last month on the quiet; there was no media release, no announcement at all. It just appeared on the website.

But as a requirement of registration, it suggests virtually every doctor in Australia must undertake at least 50 hours of CPD every year, with at least 12.5 hours focused on reviewing performance and 12.5 hours reviewing outcomes.

It also suggests doctors draw up annual development plans to allow them to “reflect on the value and appropriateness of proposed CPD activities before and after undertaking them”.