Search for a course

Home
Courses
My Notes
Pricing

Search for a course

Type your query, then click the icon or press Enter.

GOC Standard 13: Respect, Fairness, and Non-Discrimination in Optical Practice

Supporting Professional Integrity Through Everyday Actions

Reputation
No token earned yet.
Reach 50 points to earn the Peridot (Trainee Level).
CPD Certificates
You have CPD Certificates for 0 courses.
Exam Cup
No cup earned yet.
Average at least 80% in exams to earn the Bronze Cup.

Course Menu

Respect, Fairness & Inclusion
Respect & Fairness
Respect in Everyday Practice
Everyday Respect
Fairness in Patient Care
Fairness in Action
Avoiding Discrimination
Discrimination in Practice
Managing Disrespect
Handling Disrespectful Behaviour
Reflection & Continuous Improvement
Exam Pass Notes
Reading List
GOC Standard 13 Completion
Take Test
Give Feedback
Record Reflections
View Certificate

Launch offer: Certificates are currently free when you create a free account and log in. Log in for free access

Scenario Page 3: Discrimination in Practice

Respect is tested when habits collide with needs. The following scenarios show proportionate responses that protect dignity and comply with Standard 13. ^[1]

Scenario

At reception, a patient with a learning disability arrives with a carer. The receptionist continuously directs questions and explanations to the carer, leaving the patient unaddressed and excluded from the interaction.

How can inclusion be restored?

Greet the patient by name and address questions to them first.^[2]^[7]
Ask if they would like the carer to help and how.^[2]^[4]
Offer easy-read materials or extra time if needed.^[3]^[7]
Record communication preferences for next time.^[3]^[2]

Scenario

A patient wearing a hijab is asked to remove it for what is described as a non-contact procedure. The request appears routine rather than clinically justified, leaving the patient uncertain and uncomfortable.

What is the fair, culturally sensitive approach?

Explain which items need to be uncovered for accuracy (e.g., spectacles) and why the hijab need not be removed.^[5]^[6]
If removal is clinically essential for a specific step, offer a private space and, where possible, a same-gender clinician, with clear consent.^[5]^[6]
Document the discussion and any adjustments made.^[5]^[3]

Accountability details for both scenarios ^[1]^[4]^[3]

Who identified the issue.
What inclusive steps were taken.
When preferences were recorded.
Why the approach met clinical need without unnecessary intrusion.

References (numbered in text)

13. Show respect for fairness to others and do not discriminate — General Optical Council Find (opens in a new tab)
Examining patients with learning disabilities — College of Optometrists Find (opens in a new tab)
Accessible Information Standard – requirements (DAPB1605) — NHS England (2025) Find (opens in a new tab)
Reasonable adjustments: a legal duty — Public Health England (2016) Find (opens in a new tab)
Intimate examinations and chaperones — General Medical Council Find (opens in a new tab)
Religious practices of Muslim women in the UK during maternity: evidence-based professional practice recommendations — Shaima M. Hassan; BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth (2022) Find (opens in a new tab)
Communicating with people with a learning disability — Mencap (2024) Find (opens in a new tab)

Key Points

Please take a moment to review these points, reflect on their significance and consider how they apply to your own experiences.

Tick to confirm (optional):

Restore direct inclusion by greeting and addressing the patient first, even when accompanied by a carer.
Offer easy-read materials, extra time and record communication preferences for future visits.
Explain procedures clearly and avoid unnecessary removal of head coverings; if essential, provide privacy and same‑gender clinician where possible.
Obtain clear consent for any culturally sensitive adjustments and document discussions and decisions.
Use straightforward accountability entries: who identified the issue, what steps were taken, when preferences were recorded and why the approach met clinical need.

Ask Dr. Aiden

Maximum characters reached

Personalise Dr Aiden

Letting Dr Aiden know a little about you helps him personalise his responses.

Your first name:

Occupation:

Work setting:

Experience / other relevant factors:

Details Saved

Privacy & usage: All the details you enter here are optional. They are saved in this browser on this device and not on our server. They cannot be accessed by other sites you visit. When you ask Dr Aiden a question, these details are sent to OpenAI (only as part of your request) to generate a response. OpenAI may keep this data briefly for security and abuse prevention, but it is not used to train OpenAI’s models. Please avoid entering anything that could personally identify you if you are concerned about privacy.

Rate this page

Mecourse is in public beta. Courses, progress tracking, and certificates are live, but we’re still polishing the experience and adding improvements. If you spot anything odd, please let us know.

Describe the error or issue you found on this page.

Minimum 12 characters (0 / 800)

Avoiding Discrimination Managing Disrespect

Sign up now for a free account

Log In or Register

Enter your email to proceed:

I agree to the Terms & Conditions

Account Found

We found an account for that email.

How would you like to sign in?

Account Suspended

Your account is suspended. Please contact support if you need help restoring access.

Check Your Inbox

We've sent a magic link to
.
Click it to sign in.

(If you don't see it, please check spam.)

Enter Your Password

Password

Remember me

Incorrect password. Please try again.

Forgot your current password?

No Account Found

We couldn't find an account for .

Would you like us to send a magic link to register you instantly, or use another email?

Check Your Inbox

We've sent a magic link to create your account. Click it to finish registration.
(If you don't see it, please check spam.)

Check Your Inbox

We’ve sent a password reset link to . If you don’t see it, please check your spam folder.

An Error Occurred

Something went wrong.

Course Snapshot

Not rated yet

Length: 60 minutes CPD (1.00 CE Credits)
Appropriate for: Optometrists, dispensing opticians, optical assistants, practice managers, reception staff, locums and students in UK optical services.
Course Price: Free
100% Online
No log in needed
Assessment requirements
To receive a CPD certificate you must view all course pages while logged in, then take a MCQ assessment.
- 10 questions, pass mark 80%.
- You have unlimited attempts.

Course tools & details Study tools, course details, quality and recommendations

Study Tools

Download course poster

Key actions for your work notice board.

Personal Development Plan

Add this course to your Personal Development Plan.

Please log in to save this to your PDP.

View my course notes Open your saved notes for this course. › Share this course Send the course link to a colleague or friend. ›

Course Details

Course Aims & Outcomes

Aim:

Objective:

Outcomes:
On course completion, you will be able to:

Cite this resource

Harvard

Mecourse Lifelong Learning (2025) ‘Scenario Page 3: Discrimination in Practice’. Mecourse Lifelong Learning [Online]. Available at: https://www.mecourse.com/scenario-page-3-discrimination-in-practice [Accessed 14 May 2026].

Vancouver

Mecourse Lifelong Learning. Scenario Page 3: Discrimination in Practice [Internet]. Mecourse Lifelong Learning; 2025 Aug 22 [cited 2026 May 14]. Available from: https://www.mecourse.com/scenario-page-3-discrimination-in-practice.

Chicago

Mecourse Lifelong Learning. “Scenario Page 3: Discrimination in Practice.” 2025. https://www.mecourse.com/scenario-page-3-discrimination-in-practice. Accessed May 14, 2026.

APA

Mecourse Lifelong Learning. (2025, August 22). Scenario Page 3: Discrimination in Practice. https://www.mecourse.com/scenario-page-3-discrimination-in-practice

IEEE

Mecourse Lifelong Learning, “Scenario Page 3: Discrimination in Practice.” Mecourse Lifelong Learning. https://www.mecourse.com/scenario-page-3-discrimination-in-practice (Accessed: May 14, 2026).

AMA

Mecourse Lifelong Learning. Scenario Page 3: Discrimination in Practice. Mecourse Lifelong Learning. Published August 22, 2025. Accessed May 14, 2026. https://www.mecourse.com/scenario-page-3-discrimination-in-practice.

Trust & Quality

Mecourse applies stringent Quality Controls to every course for the highest level of content integrity and accuracy in our educational resources.

Recommended Courses

Policies
Cookie Preferences
Copyright
Enquiries
About Us
Quality Assurance

GOC Standard 13: Respect, Fairness, and Non-Discrimination in Optical Practice

Reputation

CPD Certificates

Exam Cup

Scenario Page 3: Discrimination in Practice

Accountability details for both scenarios [1][4][3]

References (numbered in text) Why we include references

Key Points

Ask Dr. Aiden

Rate this page

Report an error ▼ ▲

Sign up now for a free account

Log In or Register

Account Found

Account Suspended

Check Your Inbox

Enter Your Password

No Account Found

Check Your Inbox

Check Your Inbox

An Error Occurred

Course Snapshot

Study Tools

Download course poster

Personal Development Plan

Course Details

Harvard

Vancouver

Chicago

APA

IEEE

AMA

Trust & Quality

Recommended Courses

Accountability details for both scenarios ^[1]^[4]^[3]

References (numbered in text)