Open letter to the General Medical Council

doi:10.1136/bmj.39427.640069.DE

BMJ 2007;335:1265 (15 December), doi:10.1136/bmj.39427.640069.DE

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Open letter to the General Medical Council

R Wheatley, consultant community paediatrician, designated doctor for child protection

¹ Child Development and Family Support Centre, Blackpool

Dr.Wheatley@bfwhospitals.nhs.uk

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Dear Professor Catto

I am writing to you as a designated doctor for child protection.As part of my responsibilities I am required to offer adviceand guidance to doctors within my area about child protectionmatters. Unfortunately, in the light of the recent verdict againstProfessor David Southall, I feel I cannot fulfil that role responsibly;to do so would put both my and their registration at peril.We urgently need guidance.

I have struggled through the available transcripts of the 33day hearing which culminated in this judgment. The judgmentfound that David Southall had inappropriately accused a motherof murdering her 10 year old child. Much of the case hingeson a complaint made by a Mrs "M." As you are doubtless aware,there have been many such complaints made over the years againstDr Southall, almost all of which are linked to an energeticand committed, . . . [Full text of this article]

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This article has been cited by other articles:

Gornall, J. (2008). Three doctors and a GMC prosecution. BMJ 337: a907-a907 [Full text]
Hall, D. M B (2008). How to investigate complaints. BMJ 336: 231-231 [Full text]
Bridson, J. (2008). GMC statement does not reflect actions. BMJ 336: 232-232 [Full text]
Catto, G. (2008). GMC's reply. BMJ 336: 231-231 [Full text]
Williams, L. H P (2008). How many doctors are referred for child protection work?. BMJ 336: 231-232 [Full text]

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Professor Southall should appeal and we should support him.: ted willis
bmj.com, 15 Dec 2007 [Full text]
Proof: B Mucci
bmj.com, 19 Dec 2007 [Full text]
Unfair Decision by GMC: Jerold F. Lucey
bmj.com, 22 Dec 2007 [Full text]
read the transcripts...: David Bell
bmj.com, 24 Dec 2007 [Full text]
How to investigate complaints: David M B Hall
bmj.com, 23 Dec 2007 [Full text]
The Transcripts exonorate Southall: Robert Wheatley
bmj.com, 27 Dec 2007 [Full text]
Spin doctors: Penny Mellor
bmj.com, 7 Jan 2008 [Full text]
Are we reading the same transcripts ???: david bell
bmj.com, 28 Dec 2007 [Full text]
Further reading: John M Bridson
bmj.com, 30 Dec 2007 [Full text]
Re: Are we reading the same transcripts ???: Robert Wheatley
bmj.com, 31 Dec 2007 [Full text]
Response to open letter: Professor Sir Graeme Catto, et al.
bmj.com, 17 Jan 2008 [Full text]
Re: Response to open letter: Penny Mellor
bmj.com, 19 Jan 2008 [Full text]
Re: Response to open letter: leonard h p Williams
bmj.com, 20 Jan 2008 [Full text]
Less Than One Percent: Brian Morgan
bmj.com, 20 Jan 2008 [Full text]
Re: Re: Response to open letter: William G Pickering
bmj.com, 21 Jan 2008 [Full text]
Response to Professor Catto: John Bridson, et al.
bmj.com, 24 Jan 2008 [Full text]
Re: Response to Professor Catto: Penny Mellor
bmj.com, 29 Jan 2008 [Full text]
Re: Response to Professor Catto: William G Pickering
bmj.com, 25 Jan 2008 [Full text]
Re: Re: Response to Professor Catto: Jonathan R. James
bmj.com, 27 Jan 2008 [Full text]
GMC-is it fit to practise: james f kirwan
bmj.com, 8 Feb 2008 [Full text]
the GMC's analysis of the transcripts is vindicated in the court of appeal: david bell
bmj.com, 26 May 2009 [Full text]
Re: the GMC's analysis of the transcripts is vindicated in the court of appeal: Penny Mellor
bmj.com, 27 May 2009 [Full text]
A reply for Mr Bell: Rob Wheatley
bmj.com, 29 May 2009 [Full text]
A question for Dr Wheatley: Penny Mellor
bmj.com, 29 May 2009 [Full text]
The High Court judgement: david bell
bmj.com, 2 Jun 2009 [Full text]