The Misleading Ways of Niall Dickson.

This Bengali Fish is Not for Frying

GMC Press Release on Mid Staffordshire and Whistleblowing. We all had to laugh. I am not quite sure whether Niall Dickson is just obtuse or simply intellectually suppressed. It must have been so inconvenient not to mention the GMC's prosecution of Dr Korashi.

Even worse, the 50 complaints investigated against Raj Mattu is not to be mentioned either. Neither is the two vexatious complaints against Cardiology whistleblower Dr Peter Wilmshurst, neither is the suspension of whistleblower Dr Robert Phipps or the strike off of Dr Shreedar Vaidya. The vexatious complaints taken up against me have always been legendary. Catching me was of course another issue for the GMC. Some large bengali fish don't like to be fried.

Of course, we won't mention these to the public because it would cast aspersions on the integrity of the GMC and question their role in suppressing those who raise concerns.

This is the GMC Press Release.

"This is a distressing report that reveals significant failings at Mid-Staffordshire Trust. The report highlights a number of very serious issues about the quality of patient care, including concerns about the conduct and performance of some doctors working at the Trust. The Medical Director has referred several doctors to the GMC and we are working closely with the hospital to ensure that we have the information we require to investigate and, if necessary, to suspend or restrict their practice during the investigation. We will be in further discussions with the Trust in light of the recommendations made in today's report."

"The report does raise questions about how doctors and other professionals respond when they see poor quality care. Our guidance, Good Medical Practice, which is the foundation of good care and medical professionalism makes it absolutely clear that all doctors must make the care of their patient their first concern. If any doctor has reason to think that patient safety is, or may be, seriously compromised then they must take steps to put the matter right. If doctors have concerns that a member of the team may not be fit to practise they must take appropriate steps without delay. This includes raising concerns locally and, if there are still concerns about the safety of patients they should inform the relevant regulatory body. Doctors with management responsibility must make sure that there are systems in place through which colleagues can raise concerns about risks to patients."

We must remember that Professor Rubin told the BMJ

"I want to make clear that any doctor who wants to report genuine concerns will have nothing to fear from the GMC. The GMC emphasises the responsibility of doctors to report their concerns and this is echoed throughout our guidance. In particular Good Medical Practice (2006) states both that doctors should raise concerns about inadequate resources and that they must protect patients from risk of harm posed by a colleague's conduct, performance or health. Raising Concerns (2006) makes clear that provided doctors have been honest, raising a concern is justified even if it turns out to be groundless" Peter Rubin 2009