I beg to differ with Liz Wager, who recalls the Royal Free’s
assertion that serious misconduct had not occurred in the case of the
Royal Free Three. On the contrary, I think this begs the question of
whether the GMC’s judgment, was in fact correct, despite the fact that it
has taken so long to reach a verdict on the three eminent physicians in
the dock.
The GMC has got it wrong before.
Professor Sir Roy Meadow was struck off by the GMC in July 2005. He
contested his erasure and was reinstated after hearings in the High Court
and the Court of Appeal. Consultant Paediatrician, Professor David
Southall was erased from the register in December 2007, and in May this
year was finally reinstated by a decree of the High Court.
Paediatricians know that the GMC can make terrible mistakes. In fact,
in April 2008, British paediatricians debated a motion of no confidence in
the GMC. [1]
Perhaps recognising that such lengthy prosecutions are likely to
deter further research into childhood inflammatory bowel disease and some
of the other possible causes of autistic spectrum disorders, will
Britain’s paediatricians call for another vote of no confidence in the
GMC?
Rapid Response:
Re: What is COPE doing?
I beg to differ with Liz Wager, who recalls the Royal Free’s
assertion that serious misconduct had not occurred in the case of the
Royal Free Three. On the contrary, I think this begs the question of
whether the GMC’s judgment, was in fact correct, despite the fact that it
has taken so long to reach a verdict on the three eminent physicians in
the dock.
The GMC has got it wrong before.
Professor Sir Roy Meadow was struck off by the GMC in July 2005. He
contested his erasure and was reinstated after hearings in the High Court
and the Court of Appeal. Consultant Paediatrician, Professor David
Southall was erased from the register in December 2007, and in May this
year was finally reinstated by a decree of the High Court.
Paediatricians know that the GMC can make terrible mistakes. In fact,
in April 2008, British paediatricians debated a motion of no confidence in
the GMC. [1]
Perhaps recognising that such lengthy prosecutions are likely to
deter further research into childhood inflammatory bowel disease and some
of the other possible causes of autistic spectrum disorders, will
Britain’s paediatricians call for another vote of no confidence in the
GMC?
[1] News. Owen Dyer. Paediatricians debate a motion of no confidence
in General Medical Council. BMJ 2008; 336: 791.
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/336/7648/791
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests