Strike cannot be justified and could harm patients, GMC warns
BMJ 2016; 354 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i4805 (Published 05 September 2016) Cite this as: BMJ 2016;354:i4805
All rapid responses
Rapid responses are electronic comments to the editor. They enable our users to debate issues raised in articles published on bmj.com. A rapid response is first posted online. If you need the URL (web address) of an individual response, simply click on the response headline and copy the URL from the browser window. A proportion of responses will, after editing, be published online and in the print journal as letters, which are indexed in PubMed. Rapid responses are not indexed in PubMed and they are not journal articles. The BMJ reserves the right to remove responses which are being wilfully misrepresented as published articles or when it is brought to our attention that a response spreads misinformation.
From March 2022, the word limit for rapid responses will be 600 words not including references and author details. We will no longer post responses that exceed this limit.
The word limit for letters selected from posted responses remains 300 words.
If the withdrawl of labour is preceded by the legally required notice, then it is clearly the legal responsibility of the EMPLOYING AUTHORITY to make suitable arrangements.
If there is a major disaster, then I expect any registered medical practitioner will rush in to help.
"Strike cannot be justified". If this is what the GMC has really said, then it is exceeding its lawful duties.
"Could harm patients". The GMC will have to prove negligence by individual doctors. There cannot be a mass trial by the GMC.
Individual patients claiming to be harmed will have to sue the hospital concerned. Then the hospital will have to defend itself in the courts.
I would be grateful if any flaws in the above could be pointed out.
Thank you
Competing interests: No competing interests
It is obvious that harm will be caused when appointments and procedures will be cancelled. The level of harm equally obviously, has been calculated as worth striking.
Competing interests: No competing interests
Playing politics (continued}
Jeremy Hunt still refuses to talk to the junior doctors.
Why don't the BMA have a whip-round?
For just over £3,000 the Conservative Party is selling access to the Prime Minister and her ministers at its party conference.
That's the way this government likes to do business..
Mind you, I wouldn't it put it past the GMC to warn doctors they would be acting unethically in trying to buy influence.
Competing interests: No competing interests