NMC glossary · Claims and promotion
Guaranteed Cure And Success Claims: What It Means Under The NMC Rules
Also searched as: Guaranteed cure, 100% success, Miracle treatment, Painless treatment
An RMP shall not advertise personal achievements, success rates or the number of patients treated with assertions such as “Guaranteed cures”, “100% success”, “painless treatment”, “Miracle treatment” or “Exclusive cure”, or any other unverifiable or exaggerated claim.
Updated 7 November 2026. Reviewed by Tamojit Lodh, Founder of Medmatis. Built around the NMC's Public Notice No. R-13014/01/2024-Ethics of 6 October 2026. Not legal advice.
Key facts, with sources
Hide the 4 key facts and their sourcesShow the 4 key facts and their sources
| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Term | Guaranteed cure and success claims (also searched as Guaranteed cure, 100% success, Miracle treatment) | Medmatis |
| In the notice | Not defined by the notice; this entry explains how the notice uses it. | NMC notice of 6 Oct 2026, cl. 8.1 (iii), cl. 8.3 (ii), cl. 3.2, Explanation II |
| Applies to | Doctors (RMPs); hospitals under cl. 8.3 (ii) | NMC notice of 6 Oct 2026 |
| In force | From 6 October 2026, with immediate effect. The NMC may issue clarifications and advisories (cl. 12). | NMC notice of 6 Oct 2026 |
In plain words
Clause 8.1 (iii) gives a list of examples, “Guaranteed cures”, “Best doctors”, “No.1 Specialist”, “100% success”, “painless treatment”, “Miracle treatment” and “Exclusive cure”, and then widens it: “any other unverifiable or exaggerated claims by whatsoever name called”. Changing the words does not change the claim.
For hospitals and medical institutions, clause 8.3 (ii) bars guarantees of cure or treatment outcome and unverifiable or exaggerated claims. Even a factual notice that a machine is available must not claim guaranteed accuracy or outcomes (cl. 3.2 Expl. II).
What it does not mean
- It does not stop a clinic stating verifiable facts, such as the services it offers or the equipment it has.
- It does not explain how a success rate could be made “verifiable”. The notice names success rates and patient numbers among the things not to advertise in this way.
Our department treats knee conditions and offers physiotherapy after surgery.
100% success, painless treatment, guaranteed cure.
Illustrative wording only. It shows the idea and is not a clearance of any page.
The notice’s own words
Quoted from the NMC notice of 6 October 2026. Check the clause number against the original.
cl. 8.1 (iii)Shall not advertise either personal achievements or professional success rates or number of patients treated with illustrative assertions such as "Guaranteed cures", "Best doctors", "No.1 Specialist", "100% success", "painless treatment", "Miracle treatment", "Exclusive cure" or any other unverifiable or exaggerated claims by whatsoever name called.
cl. 8.3 (ii)Such communication shall not contain patient solicitation, inducement, comparative superiority claims, guarantees of cure or treatment outcome, unverifiable or exaggerated claims, or promotional portrayal of an individual RMP. The form, medium or frequency of communication shall not convert otherwise factual information into solicitation or promotional self-aggrandizement.
cl. 3.2, Explanation IIInformation regarding availability or installation of equipment, technology, diagnostic facilities or services may be disseminated as factual information, provided that such communication does not contain claims of superiority, guaranteed accuracy, guaranteed outcomes, comparative claims or other misleading or unverifiable representations.
Our plain-language guide to the whole notice → Check your own text against these rules →
Frequently asked questions
Can a doctor advertise their success rate?
The notice bars advertising professional success rates or the number of patients treated with illustrative assertions such as “100% success” or “Guaranteed cures”, and any other unverifiable or exaggerated claims (cl. 8.1 iii).
What if I use different words, like “assured results”?
The clause covers “any other unverifiable or exaggerated claims by whatsoever name called”, so a rewording of a guarantee is still a guarantee (cl. 8.1 iii).
This entry explains a public notice in plain language and quotes its clause numbers. It is not legal advice. Read the original NMC notice and take advice on your own situation.
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