Reinstate Dr Scot Jnr - Support Free Speech

In solidarity with Witchdoctor, I am terminating blog posts on any other subject until Dr Scot Jnr is reinstated. All other posts will be on the subject of the Highland Deanery. The above ribbon has been created so that each blogger who visits this can download and feature it on their blog /website in support of the junior doctor's plight.

This issue is about fundamental rights in a democratic society. The medical profession has often acted as a silencer to curb free speech in junior doctors. I once referred to this as the Code of Silence as quoted by the Sunday Times. Most medical bloggers post under a pseudonym for fear of the repercussions that have befallen Dr Scot Junior [ known on this blog affectionately as Dr Sean Connery].

The suspension of this doctor cannot be tolerated in a democratic society. This issue is not a minor matter, censorship in the medical profession has additional implications in patient safety. A survey done on a doctors only web site shows that only 15 percent of patient safety incidents were reported. Why is this so? Junior doctors are forever silenced from criticising their seniors, and this is why we have a wave of tyranny at present ruling over Dr Scot Junior. There has to be a wave of change for the future - to protect doctors and to protect patients.

The Sword of Damocles has been held over this junior's head. His job and career has been held over his head by Prof Paice and Prof Needham., the two women who teach on human rights. This is the highest price to pay for a minor comment made in a doctors only forum. The message these two Deans would like to get through is this - step out of line and criticise us and you lose your job. This is not China, this is happening in the UK NOW. If we accept this now, then we accept the violation of human rights in the UK.

Dr Scot Junior was brave enough to criticise Dame Carol Black. His use of language is not a patient safety issue. No one can dictate what his use of language should be.

He has remained illegally suspended from the Highland Deanery for weeks now. He cannot speak out to the media. His colleagues cannot inform us with their own names. as their livelihoods will be at risk. He is supported by each and every one of his colleagues in the Highlands. No member of the public or doctor has ever criticised him. We have all made the same sorts of remarks as he has throughout our lives.

This was the latest update from Scotland.

"He is still suspended, despite local advice to reinstate, regionally needham has blocked his return. The local disciplinary committee and LNC recommended no action to be taken against him, but the deanery has continued the suspension".

This case concerns the vital issue of free speech that is necessary within the medical profession. Without it, patient safety will be compromised, those who are in charge will not be criticised and more and more incompetent seniors will abuse their powers. There is no line of accountability for rogue Deans in the profession apart from the GMC. The GMC has to be seen to act in the public's interest. The public's interest is to support the right to free speech in the medical profession.

This is a summary of the right to Freedom of Speech [ as declared in the United Kingdom]. This is a basic and fundamental right given to every person in the UK - but doctors.

"Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship or limitation. The synonymous term freedom of expression is sometimes used to denote not only freedom of verbal speech but any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used. Freedom of speech and freedom of expression is closely related to, yet distinct from, the concept of freedom of conscience and freedom of thought.

In practice, the right to freedom of speech is not absolute in any country and the right is commonly subject to "limitations", such as on "hate speech". This is because exercising freedom of speech always takes place within a context of competing values.

The right to freedom of speech is recognised as human right in under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and recognised in international human rights law under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The ICCPR recognises the right to freedom of speech as "the right to hold opinions without interference. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression".^[1][2] Furthermore freedom of speech is recognised in Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights which establishes human rights law on a regional level"

All the posts I have written on the subject can be found here.

NHS Exposed Blog's posts can be found here.

Some doctors may wish to write to the Scottish Parliament. I have just written to the Highlands MP of the SNP.

Other bloggers featuring this issue

1. Jobbing Doctor.
2. Witchdoctor
3. Dr Rant
4. Northern Doctor
5. Dr Grumble
6. Ward 87
7. Chez Sam
8. Ferret Fancier.

Gillian Needham - the internet is already flooded with material by the bloggers. By the end of next week, it will be entirely flooded. Reinstate Dr Scot Junior. Reinstate him now. No point in playing with a doctors career simply because your petty female pride is hurt. Doctors who are professionals rise above such pettiness. Can you? We hear that you aren't above criticising others yourself. Every doctor has a past.