Spot of triumphalism here

http://www.alexharris.co.uk/article/Doctors_to_face_Shipman_charges_2078.asp

my reaction sent today

"Dear Dame Janet,

The website referred to above quotes you as criticising 7 doctors.
(It is presented by way of advertisment of the cleverness and potency of the
solicitors in the firm.)

It does not quote you as making it entirely clear that you regarded them as
practicing in the same way as was very common, and in a system which I would
summarise as broken and you call for large changes in.

If it was a newspaper, I would regard this as dishonest reporting.

I wonder if you would be prepared to take notice of this, and would be
grateful for your comments whether you decide to or not."


See what happens.


On Thursday 02 September 2004 01:01, Fay Wilson wrote:
> From: "Jeff Green" <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 01, 2004 1:12 AM
>
> > Maybe the GMC has a case to answer for for not being psychic at the time
>
> that case was brought? OOer - how about making them
>
> > scapegoats ;-)
>
> Someone has thought of that already.
>
> One of the doctors involved on the radio this morning said Dr S was signing
> these patients off as terminally ill and giving them misleading histories.
> She said she supposed that if they had talked to relatives they would have
> found this was not true. Do we know what the issue is before the GMC? The
> question may be about accurate certification of discussions / examinations
> etc.
>
> The GMC doesn't have a lot of choice as to whether to investigate a case
> once someone asks it to and presents evidence unless the evidence is
> plainly unbelievable.
>
> My concern is not with the public yak-fest which will be a recurring
> spectacle like Bristol, but with the personal effect on individual doctors
> of all this stress. Whether they have or haven't committed SPM this is
> disproportionate to what appears to be the allegations. And yes, the delay
> means there is a real human rights issue - a case has been thrown out at
> the GMC for this very reason. So let's not encourage these docs to adopt a
> victim mentality which is so injurious when our patients do it. Calm
> positivist and constructive best wishes would be a better bet. I dare say
> that a personal letter of professional peer support for what they are going
> through, addressed to the practice would go further to help them than 1,000
> words of angry yak on a website.
>
> Remember the GMC has not made a finding of SPM,  it has done the equivalent
> of sending the case for trial. There is a presumption of innocence and it
> is up to the lawyers to prove the case. The whole thing is exactly as in
> the courts and is no likely than the courts to be subject to the political
> whims of HMG seeking scapegoats. The doctor also has the benefit of having
> a jury containing other doctors and hence there is a legitimate medical
> perspective.
>
> DOI - I am a member and chair of GMC fitness to practise panels though I
> only sit on Health.
> --
> Fay

--
Adrian Midgley                   Open Source software is better
GP, Exeter                       http://www.defoam.net/