How many doctors are referred for child protection work?

doi:10.1136/bmj.39472.527940.3A

BMJ 2008;336:231-232 (2 February), doi:10.1136/bmj.39472.527940.3A

Letters

Open letter to the GMC

How many doctors are referred for child protection work?

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

Catto’s analysis (previous letter) in response to Wheatley’sopen letter needs comment.¹ He must accept that the GMC’sdecision about Meadow was incorrect. The High Court overturnedthe GMC’s decision, stating that the GMC’s judgment"approached the irrational." The Court of Appeal confirmed theHigh Court’s action.² Perhaps Catto would like to statethat it was the GMC that erred.

Some readers may not realise that the eight paediatricians thatCatto says were referred to the fitness to practise procedureswere only a fraction of those actually referred to the GMC.The fitness to practise procedure is not the start of the GMCprocess but is a hurdle along the route. It would be usefulif Catto told us exactly how many senior paediatricians hadbeen referred to the GMC because of their work in child protection.A survey by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Healthin 2004 . . . [Full text of this article]

Leonard H P Williams, consultant paediatrician

¹ Bassetlaw District General Hospital, Worksop S81 0BD

leonard.williams@dbh.nhs.uk