A group of doctors who last week accused the UK General Medical Council of failing children are forming an action group to counter what they say is the “intimidation” of child protection professionals.

In a paper published in Pediatrics on 2 April, more than 50 UK paediatricians and other professionals accused the GMC of deterring doctors from raising concerns about children's safety and increasing the risk of serious child abuse. The GMC's actions against the paediatricians Roy Meadow and David Southall, they said, “conflict with current child protection laws and guidance for professionals” (Pediatrics 2007;119:800-2).

Many believe that the combined efforts of the GMC, campaigning groups, and the media are seriously disrupting the safeguarding of children. A large number of paediatricians and allied professionals are now organising themselves into a lobby group with the aim of correcting misleading propaganda …