Professionals Against Child Abuse

PACA has Early Day Motion in the House of Commons put forward by Daniel Kawczynski

“General Medical Council Complaints System – 10-06-2008

That this House believes that the General Medical Council’s (GMC) complaints mechanism fails to comply with standards of fairness and due process required by Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights; observes that the GMC’s role in investigating, prosecuting and sentencing falls below the standard required of an independent and impartial tribunal; notes that in practice the GMC represents the interest of parents in cases where doctors suspect abuse; further notes that children themselves have no independent representation to present a doctor’s concerns; further believes that no published guidelines appear to guide prosecution decisions and that, as prosecutor, the GMC amends and adds charges in an ad hoc fashion; considers that doctors are uncertain of the allegations they face, compromising their ability to mount a cogent defence; further considers that the GMC calls expert witnesses with clear conflicts of interest in the proceedings who are unrepresentative of mainstream practice or opinion, and that the GMC adopts a populist, punitive, deterrent and disproportionate approach to sentencing; further considers that the GMC’s apparently arbitrary admission and exclusion of evidence extends to ignoring the findings of previous investigations into a case conducted by an accused doctor’s employer; further believes that the GMC values the public perception and integrity of the profession above individual rights; and further observes that, contrary to basic principles of justice, the GMC appears to assume the guilt of doctors before it, and refuses to acquit when a conviction is impossible, instead finding ‘no realistic prospect of prosecution’.”

For the full article, please visit: http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMList.aspx

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Article cited with kind permission of onmedica.com

A recent OnMedica poll of 589 doctors has found that 74% disagree with the General Medical Council’s decision to remove paediatrician David Southall from the medical register.

Dr Southall was struck off the register in December 2007 after being found guilty by the GMC of serious professional misconduct. The GMC decided Prof Southall’s conduct in a case where he accused a mother of drugging and murdering her son was an abuse of position and fundamentally incompatible with his continuing as a registered medical practitioner.

At the time of the ruling, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health spoke out against the GMC’s decision, and paid tribute to the major contribution to child health made by Dr Southall during a distinguished career.

Kamran Abbasi, CEO of OnMedica, said: “The GMC was criticised for its decision at the time of the ruling. This poll proves that a large majority of doctors agree that Dr Southall should not have been struck off. It is important that doctors are not deterred from undertaking child protection work.”