McJobbyGate. The Final Analysis.

Half way there. The Next Generation will make it to the top. 

As the blogging world will be aware, Dr Scott Junior was saved by a collateral referral  of the  Deans to the General Medical Council. We had news that Dr Scott Junior was due to be referred to the GMC and we subsequently reversed the process. This ensured Dr Scott Junior was effectively free. The matter was featured here by the Register. The summary is this - Dr Scott Junior was effectively pissed off with the rulers of the MMC. He progressed to make some inflammatory remarks on Doctors.net.uk. Doctors.net.uk management failed to support him. Elizabeth Paice, the then London Dean spent large amounts of time on the Doctors.net.uk forum and arranged for a referral to NHS Scotland where Dr Scot Junior worked. Subsequently, Scot Junior was suspended. Dark Knight and his cronies then sought to assist the many bloggers who featured the story day after day. His colleagues joined and wrote to the Scottish Head Honcho. A GMC Referral was done for his Deans and hey presto, he was released and allowed back to work.

It should be borne in mind that, getting two Deans through the GMC procedures is  mammoth task.  Keeping them in there for a year or more is even more of a tough call. As we can see, superiors within the NHS are protected. This was evidenced by the case R v GMC Ex Parte Remedy UK where no investigation took place despite the negligence and damage caused to hundreds if not thousands of doctors. This is therefore possibly the first time the leading senior deans have been frisked by the General Medical Council. Their contacts were bound to save them and they did.

The original complaint was drafted by myself, Dr Dark Knight, Witchdoctor, Dr Rant and The Jobbing Doctor. A copy can be downloaded here

The complaint can be thrown out immediately before rule 7 as is the case with numerous complaints. This complaint did get past Rule 7 and a allegation list [charge list] was developed. You can access these here [ Needham and Paice]

The final decision can be accessed here  [ Needham and Paice]. Essentially, the guidance here is diametrically opposite to that provided by the GMC Ethics team but the case examiners make it up as they go along. They had to effectively bend the rules to allow Paice and Needham out.

Gillian Needham and Professor Paice were eventually cleared. I could have taken this up on Rule 12  Presidential Review and probably won as I have done in the past but the determination to fight  was down to about jelly fish level. My colleagues did not have the inspiration to fight this and effectively gave up. As I have no particular affiliation towards Scot Junior whom I consider to be  inconsiderate anyway,  I didn't waste my time on this. 

Anyhow, a cleared complaint and a change in posts or Paice says a lot more about the system we exist in. The battle was fought well in general and this is potentially the best we could have done.

BAPIO Honours Elizabeth Paice.

The large barracuda has come out of the water to be honoured by BAPIO. Read on here. 

Above is a picture of Paice receiving the award for victimizing the most doctors in any one Deanery. Following the Scot Junior campaign and subsequent GMC referral, Paice moved to a different job.

Thanks Bapio, just goes to show that you guys eat too many samosas and have a disconnection between the contact points in the cerebellum. 

McJobbyGate. Catching Plaice

I felt I ought to mention Dr Scot Junior. Of course, despite all the work done for Dr Scot Junior, the ungrateful little toad has not even emailed me. That is what you get for strategically saving someone's skin.

The update on the Professor Plaice and Hemlockgate is that the complaints are still continuing at GMC Towers and have not been thrown out. Another case of victimisation by Plaice has been unearthed.

Mcjobbygate. GMC Fishes For Plaice

David Patterson [GMC] Is Fishing

Professor Plaice and I go back almost a decade. Recently, I sent an email to Professor Plaice. [see below]. She wouldn't respond to it of course. I believe in the old days of Hazard County in Stoke on Trent, Professor Paice always suggested that doctors who did not agree with her seek counselling. Indeed, it was her only solution to whistleblowing. These behavior traits have not improved over the years. Indeed, matters have simply worsened. Plaice has persistently bullied junior doctors and abused her powers. Everyone has known that for years and overlooked the problem. This Rogue Dean should actually retire from her post before she continues to embarrass and undermine the medical profession with her dysfunctional behavior.

The Mcjobbygate Scandal has caught Paice in a Spin. She is facing the same fate as she dishes out on many vulnerable junior doctors.

Of course, to Paice, every junior doctor who does not agree with the status quo potentially has a psychological problem. Paice though cannot tell us with complete certainty that she has never approached a mental health professional. Paice's personality issues are now obvious to the world given her oppressive tactics to silence a legitimate critic of the MMC fiasco. Then again, this isn't the first time she has attempted to silence a critic. In her mind, small fry must be controlled. Without control, the establishment cannot rule effectively.

In our mind, rogue deans must be controlled, without control, there will be no accountability.

----- Original Message -----
From: Rita Pal
To: Graeme Catto ; donald@donaldirvine.demon.co.uk
Cc: epaice@londondeanery.ac.uk ; Phil Hammond ; finlayscott@gmc-uk.org
Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 4:56 PM
Subject: Private Eye

Prof Catto

Thought you would like the enclosed article. I thought Hammond did a excellent job. I am sure you will to.

I have copied this to Professor Paice who is directly responsible for the ineffective manner in which she managed the situation. It is something she has never apologised for and neither will she. Now that she herself is subject to a GMC investigation, perhaps she will take the advice she gave me at the time, that is to seek counselling. That being her only solution to the deaths of numerous patients.

Of course, Donald Irvine who now campaigns for Mid Staffordshire ironically concealed North Staffordshire NHS Trust and understands the following quote from a Department of Health document " Our client was asked by the General Medical Council as to why the Complainant might have made these allegations and whether our client thought that the General Medical Council should proceed against the complainant for making what appeared to be accusations in an unprofessional manner"

Regards

Dr Rita Pal

Previously on Mcjobbygate.

Draft allegations for Professor Needham are listed here.

DRAFT ALLEGATIONS BY THE GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL

Professor Elizabeth Paice

C1-220901005
That being registered under the Medical Act 1983 (as amended):

1. In July 2008, you were employed by NHS London and you were also the Post Graduate Dean Director at the London Deanery.

2. On or around 19 July 2008, you reported Dr M, a trainee doctor to Professor Needham, the Post Graduate Dean of the Northern Region Scotland stating that;

a) Dr M had entered a posting on Doctors.net.uk, an internet forum about Dr B, a friend and colleague of yours;
b) you had written to the chair of the Doctors.net.uk Board complaining about the language Dr M used in the posting;
c) you believed that this was evidence of unprofessional behaviour by Dr M;
d) you believed that Dr M may be unwell.

3. Following your complaint, Dr M was subsequently suspended by his employers, NHS Highland, Scotland.

4. On or around 4 September 2008, you made comments to the Inverness Courier Newspaper defending your complaint against Dr M and stated that;

a) there was a point where personal abuse of individuals reaches such viciousness that it became unprofessional;
b) you stated that the GMC guidelines included a section on treating colleagues with respect which Dr M had breached.

5. You knew or ought to have known that the GMC guidelines you quoted in the press article applied to clinical situations which did not apply in Dr M’s case.

6. As a result of your actions in paragraph 2, 3, 4 & 5 above:

a) you used your position to bully a junior doctor who had criticised a friend and colleague of yours;
b) you reacted disproportionately to a posting on an internet forum, that did not concern you;
c) you attempted to curb the free speech of a junior doctor on an internet forum by making your complaint;
d) you knew or ought to have known that your complaint would lead to disciplinary action against Dr M by his employers;
e) you attempted to mislead the public by making reference to the guidelines in the press article that did not apply to your complaint in order to justify your position.

7. Your actions in paragraphs 2, 3 4, 5 & 6 above were:

a) an abuse of your position;
b) inappropriate;
c) irresponsible.

Dr Scot Jnr. The Cosy Chats Between Deans

Dr Scot Jnr's saga is alive and well at the Dark Towers. For all those who don't know the story, please do follow it here. The fascinating David Patterson from the Dark Towers emailed me recently and enclosed the following emails [see below]. It is interesting to note the emails below between Professor Hemlock and Plaice. The document from Lis Paice refers to Sir Cyril Chantler. Sir Cyril was on the GMC's Standards Committee in 2002. His famous work was A View from the General Medical Council. It is clear that he spends his time telling us all what is proper speech. Of course, what was proper speech in his heddy days [ a long time ago] isn't necessarily a la mode now.

It now explains the relationship between the Doctors Only website and the General Medical Council. It also explains why there is a direct line for complaints against doctors who post there. I speak of course of the complaint against the late Dr Shepherd. This is a nice neat family who engage in fitting up junior doctors for a living. As for the General Medical Council - I know what you did in the summer of 2001-2003. It has all come back to haunt you :).

This is not the first complaint Prof Paice has made. One wonders why she would question Dr Scot's mental state? Does this happen to everyone?


-----Original Message-----
From: Gillian Needham
Sent: 19 July 2008 10:18
To: PAICE, Elisabeth
Subject: Re: FW: DNUK
Thanks Lis. Quite shocking.
I will discreetly pursue.
Thank you.
Gx
>>> "PAICE, Elisabeth" 19/07/08 09:08 >>>
Dear Gillian
I thought I should bring the letter below to your attention. It is a posting on DNUK from a doctor whose DNUK profile identifies him as xxxxxxx, an StR year 3 in general surgery. He signs off as 'from Inverness' so I imagine he is one of yours. I read the DNUK fora from time to time and came across his posting in the 'air your views to the media' forum, which clearly states it is open to journalists.It is therefore intended as a public statement of his views. I wrote to Sir Cyril Chantler, who is the chair of the DNUK board, as soon as I saw it. It has now been modified with all the scatological languiage removed. I have been assured that further steps will be taken to stop this kind of behaviour. I thought you should be aware, as you may feel that this posting, which was up for at least 5 days before it was altered, is evidence of unprofessional behaviour in one of your trainees. He may of course be unwell. I would be grateful if you would not circulate this further than absolutely necessary, as the fewer people read it the better.
Kind regards
Lis

Colour Co-ordination

My rebuttal document responding to Plaice Fish and Ms Hemlockgate landed in GMC Towers today. Finlay Scott and Graeme Catto read the email within a few minutes :).

The document should have been sent with colour co-ordinated PINK folder.Indeed, I have done this before in a case. In 2004, I walked in with GMC recommended "pink" folder with bright white polka dots. On this occasion I behaved myself and didn't put any reference numbers down. For another issue in the GMC in 2003, I created the reference RP/GMCRCRAP/. No one noticed and the GMC continued to quote that reference number in all their letters.

Thankyou to all who assisted me during my moments of airheadness and "opps I did it again" spelling errors! I am eternally grateful for all the input.

The document was 45 pages, written within a time frame of 22 hours :).

Dr Crawford George Macdougall Fernie. MDDUS

MDDUS - All Hidden Behind the Fur

My, My what a flamboyant name for such a little man. Dougall as he shall be known represents Professor Gillian Needham. He is trying hard to conceal her misdemeanors but it won't be long before we have all the information on Dr Scot Jnr :). This was Dougall's artistic impression. He tells the GMC to swiftly dispose of the complaint so that none of us or the GMC can see what lies beneath.

Dougall is an interesting Medical Advisor. Fascinating little man with a interesting little brain. Likes to gloss over issues and doesn't like to produce any evidence.

Anyhow, this will be fun. My next submission/ response to them will be going in tomorrow. I would publish it and that will come in time. At least this time Dougall can advise his client not to go to the hills with married men to consume Hemlock.

Oh So Peachy at GMC Towers

Warning - GMC At Work Plus Benefits

As many people will know, I have been hot on the trail of Professor Paice and Professor Needham. As everyone is aware, Plaicey was one of the architects of the MMC. She is probably the most hated dean this side of the medical hemisphere. Being a fish, especially a large flat white fish must be difficult for Plaicey. This is what happens to those who believe they are invinsible. It is even worse when the entire blogsphere is filled with little post it notes that detail her antics. Plaice will realise that she cannot flash her fins without running into a blogger.

The tale is as follows, Dr Scot Jr had a minor attack of artistry with colourful words on a Doctors only Website. Those were the days when our tartan king felt brave. This caused Plaicey to huff and puff, she then attempted to blow his job down in Inverness. Professor Needham bowed and scraped and reacted rapidly, it was so rapid that the synaptic firing just didn't happen. We think it must have been her surgical lovers or Hemlock. All this subsequently caused the tartan king to hide under his duvet only to be quoted in one Glasgow newspaper. No doubt, he will be gritting his proverbial teeth while struggling through his shortbread this Christmas.

While all this was going on, I formally complained to the GMC. It did go passed the Registrars stage [Primary Stage] at GMC Towers and is currently wallowing around with a nice chap called David Patterson, paid by GMC Towers. He also has free use of the local gym and health insurance. Golly! He is a lucky bunny. For all the junior doctors out there who have no oncall rooms, who have suffered the perils of the MMC and those whose careers have been terminated by the medical establishment should take a peak at the benefits of lounging around GMC Towers. Spectacular benefits for those who do not know their own case law. :). Even more spectacular for those who have to look said case law up on this website :).

All doctors should also understand that it is their money that pays for these benefits. All junior doctors slogging their guts out at NHS Towers and whose interests are placed pretty low down in the pecking order at GMC Towers, end up funding these snow dogs at the GMC.

Anyway, as most people know, Plaicey and Hemlock Queen submitted their responses. That is if you can call them submissions. In my view, I have seen better submissions penned by a GCSE student. They were more of a " chuck the complaint out, its ok if we all abuse our powers" kind of response.

Of course, the complaint hangs on by the skin of its teeth. At least it is hanging on. The first game of chess played by the GMC was the purposeful omission of the Scot Jnr post [that was removed from the Doctors only website] from both responses [ Paice and Needham]. The GMC refused to disclose the post for sometime. I moaned about this repeatedly online and offline. The GMC demanded that I submit a response without access to the post in question. I dug my heels in and told them, if they continue their antics of non disclosure, I would challenge them. I decided not to respond substantively at all. I sat and waited, ate chocolate, wrote Christmas cards, looked at hunky men when all of a sudden, GMC Towers backed down. I nearly choked on my cornflakes.

I do like the way that our friend Patterson palms this off as a accidental mistake :) and glosses over the fact that the posts were purposely omitted from me. A apparent"mistake" that he made not once but twice. Perhaps it was a case of Britney Spears " Opps I did it again". I postulated on the various places the mysteriously disappearing Dr Scot Jnr art work may have disappeared to. Perhaps Snow Dog 1 David Patterson had a case of selective memory loss. Perhaps Finlay Scott had grabbed it and clutched onto it until his lawyers used prised it away from him. Perhaps it was under Graeme Catto's bed. Even worse, perhaps it was hidden in Carol Black's holiday luggage. Anyway, following the mention of Henshall, the posts appeared. Perhaps it was just by magic :).

Do note the phrase " redaction" in the letter below :). The GMC uses this posh word to describe their efforts at concealing material purposely. This is their interpretation of transparency. Of course, if one right clicks on the redaction :), the link shows us the identity of Dr Scot Jnr :) :). I have been known to hold redactions under bright lights and translate them :). Nothing is hidden forever of course.

Anyway, here is the email from the intrepid GMC post hunter David Patterson. Gosh, he suddenly found the post when faced with the case law Henshall that described how the GMC are obliged to disclose ALL documents to both parties. Isn't that a coincidence eh. A snow dog backing down after looking the case law up online :). So, the above is a picture of David and his colleagues sporting the new GMC shades -that's because they are all "shady" :). OMG OMG, you just know GMC Towers will term this post "inappropriate" :) *wink* directed at Dr India :).

I am due to respond to the submissions by the 9th January 2009. If anyone has any suggestions, feel free to let me know. I have my chocolate supply ready, one Bacardi breezer, Dreamgirls DVD, Mama Mia , Now Magazine and Hello to keep me occupied while I pen my response. My response is based on collective suggestions by some very clever people [ and some sexy men!].

No snow dogs/ GMC workers were harmed during the making of this post :) :).

----- Original Message -----

From: David Patterson (0161 923 6426)
To: Rita Pal
Sent: Monday, December 22, 2008 11:20 AM
Subject: RE: GMC Investigation: I1-220900958


Dear Dr Pal

Further to our previous correspondence, please find attached two copies of the relevant internet posting.

The first was provided by Professor Paice with her response and the second accompanied Professor Needham’s comments, both of which I have already forwarded.

Please note these have been redacted in part and my apologies for not having disclosed them sooner. I am also happy to agree a two week due date for your response and would therefore be grateful if you could submit your comments by 09 January 2008.



Yours sincerely



David Patterson

Investigation Officer

Fitness to Practise Directorate

General Medical Council

5th Floor

St James's Building

79 Oxford Street

Manchester

M1 6FQ



Direct Dial: 0161 923 6426

Email: dpatterson@gmc-uk.org

The Elusive Jobbygate Post. We seek it here, we seek it there. ........

Partial Ode to a Dame
By the artiste formally known as Dr Scot Jnr

I am not in the mood to piss around looking at the GMC trying to pull the wool over my eyes and assuming that I was born yesterday. The above is apparently part of the post on a Doctors Only website penned by artiste Dr Scot Jnr. The entire post appended to both responses [Paice and Needham] to the GMC complaint, has been omitted from being disclosure to me. The issue here is that it could have been any post. We have no idea whether the post has been tampered/embellished/altered by the parties, nor do we have any idea of its authenticity. The GMC certainly does not seem to have checked the accuracy of their evidence.

To cut a long story short, the GMC are sitting on documents and expect me to respond on their"selective" documents. This selective cherry picking is nothing new. It happens every day to every doctor facing GMC Towers.

They assume that we are all born yesterday and that they can " slip one under the radar" and hope that I or any doctor don't notice that they are "cherry picking" the disclosure to me. I am not in the mood for selective disclosure habits. The GMC can either play by the rule book or are likely to meet with a challenge.

I know exactly what the guidance on disclosure is within the GMC procedure. At the present time the GMC, Prof Paice and Prof Needham all think it is acceptable for all of them to have access to the full post but for me to have no access to the entire post. My suspicion is that they have asked the GMC not to disclose the post to me.

I am not responding in detail unless there is full disclosure. Any response would mean that I accept their illegal action of purposeful concealment from me.

I don't accept it and I shall challenge it as they well know. This point is extremely important in administrative law. Both sides MUST have the same documents disclosed. It is not up to the GMC to cherry pick these documents and determine what is appropriate or inappropriate.

If anyone out there would like to send me the full post, please do.

At present, the GMC have been asked for their legal justification in the omission of this post. 10 minutes following my request to them, they were out on the internet looking up " Henshall". Henshall is the leading case on the disclosure point. I am very surprised they do not know their own case law.

The GMC has also currently repeatedly failed to respond to the question regarding Dame Carol Black. They have not confirmed whether or not she disapproved of the post in question. It has been many weeks so far and both Carol Black and the GMC have remained silent. The GMC can be seen to be roosting on this question.

The jousting is afoot. Be assured, this is not going to be a walkover for Paice, Needham or Carol Black. Anything they opt to conceal will be found.

Credits - frame by Dr Wayne :)

GMC Denies Me JobbyGate Post :). The Hide and Seek Game

Ethnically Correct GMC Hiding The Jobbygate Post

So we see that the GMC want to play pass the parcel again :). This is what they always do. I am sure it is Toni Smerdon or Juliet Oliver's doing. They are the inept lawyers at GMC Towers by the way. One was told off by a high court judge and complained about by Prof Tim David and the other develops arguments out of her high heels. The problem with high heels is that they really wear out before they reach the court.

The GMC have provided Paice and Needham's response to my complaint. Both have had no desire to response to the substantive questions raised. This is because they are of the view that they can sit on their colleagues at GMC towers to let them off. I accept that, we all do but it is always fun to see them all in action.

At present, the GMC are refusing to respond to valid questions raised with them. They are also refusing to show me the jobbygate post. The jobbygate post was enclosed with each response. from Paice and Needham but it is currently omitted from all GMC correspondence to me despite being referred to. The GMC cherry picks their correspondence and sends it to me hoping that I won't notice.

This is my favourite GMC quote

"I also believe passionately in fairness, both to patients and to doctors. At a minimum, processes and procedures should be fair, objective, transparent and free from unfair discrimination" Graeme Catto 2006"

Of course, this has happened once before. Toni Smerdon will recall that her antics in omitting the North Staffordshire NHS Trust reports from the Professor Griffiths response just didn't work. They sent me his response but no enclosures :).This effort at non disclosure fell flat on her face when they had to disclose the documents to me in the end. The GMC know the law, they know the rule in Henshall.

"Accordingly, I agree with Mr Havers' submission that there is no legal basis upon which a doctor in a response to disciplinary proceedings before the GMC had any right to refuse consent to disclosure to the complainant, on the ground of confidentiality or otherwise, so as effectively to remove from the PPC a discretion whether or not to make disclosure in the interest of fairness of both parties."

They know the law with Norwich Pharmacal and they also know that it is important and fair for me to have access to the post in order to respond meaningfully. They know the GMC should ensure Article 6 HRA rights to the complainant and the doctor. At present, the GMC aren't being "transparent". They are concealing "documentation" from me.

We therefore ask the question - why this purposeful concealment?

David Patterson, the person dealing with this at GMC Towers is being evasive. He is not responding to questions asked of him to clarify various aspects of the issues raised. Thats ok, twenty people can play the same silly game.

This is Professor Needham's response. Clearly she was too busy at some hotel examining Hemlock to even pen her own response so she got her little servants at the MDDUS to do it for her. I love the MDDUS because they are so ineffective at their defences. I recall them walking out on my friend Dr Sushant Varma GMC case - mid hearing. Gosh, what a defence union eh. You wouldn't give a Castlemaine Four X for that sort of crappy representation. Everyone should note the "blank" language they use. The MDDUS are quite right, the GMC have not allowed me access to the precious post :).

By the way, this is detailed to provide an interesting example of the manner in which the GMC deals with complaints. Essentially, they do what they feel like.

How long shall we play this game of hide and seek then?!

Rooum With A GMC View

The above was printed in Private Eye a few weeks ago. I should thank the dapper little medical student who asked me to write it in response to Rebecca Rooum. I actually didn't think MD or Private Eye would print it. Indeed, they nearly didn't as their lawyers sent it back for "evidence". The fact that the "evidence" had been online for 8 years clearly escaped them so I decided to appraise them. After gulping down extra Belgian chocolate, the lawyers decided to allow it into print. I should though thank Private Eye and my dealings with Phil Hammond have been pretty decent which makes me rather ashamed of what I have said about Phil in the past. Perhaps I was wrong but then again who knows. He seems nice enough anyway for a guy.

He isn't as nice as my friend Dr India though who finds himself being thrown around at GMC Towers. I had hoped that this would not happen to him as I would never want anyone to be a marked man. When the GMC touches you -you are indeed marked. They chase you around much like sniffer dogs. This isn't paranoia of course, its sheer reality. Nicholas Cooling for instance is back at GMC Towers according to his press release. For Nick, I believe he really needs to set up his tent at GMC Towers. His dealings with the GMC is probably a little like Southalls dealings with the GMC - revolving door. The GMC place their beady eye on you and minor issues become oddities.

The circumstances with Dr India is just tragic really. A excellent doctor who is essentially going to be sent to Siberia unless the blogsphere stops it. I should know Dr India because I worked with him. He is a stable, nice and decent guy currently being dragged through the mud at GMC Towers. I am horrified at the GMC psychiatrists. I am sure they live in their ivory towers and never go out. A "tiff" has become a symptom of "personality disorder". How did that happen then? When did that happen? If people are treated badly, they react - because it is human nature. The issue here though is that all patients like Dr India. He is one of those doctors that every patient likes talking to. Dr India though is the most normal person anyone could come across. For once in his whole life, he tried to assert his rights, to be treated humanely and the GMC have come down on him like a ton of bricks. Dr India isn't me. He isn't a rebel by nature, he has always played the right cards. I cannot for the life of me believe what I am seeing at present. What the hell is Blake Dobson and his team doing? Blake, the man I always thought ensured high standards, now I discover that they are all sitting there like large crocodiles by the rivers edge waiting to pounce on Dr India. Each thing he does is now scrutinised as an "abnormality". If the truth be known, Dr India is fine. He recently brought me presents from his trip to India. Dr India knows I hate gold so he brought me silver bracelets. So, I consider why the GMC are attacking a doctor that isn't a risk to patients?

I am positive this is a power trip on the GMC's part.

This makes me think about the kind of people at GMC Towers. I know for a fact that if the GMC harm him in any way, I shall plaster his case all through the internet waves until it is featured from here to India. Anything is possible as I always say.

I feel sick today regarding GMC towers. I feel sick at what they have done to many people. They ruin doctors and assasinate their emotions. So much so that existence becomes much like the living dead. They take no responsibility regarding what they do. The GMC have fought me - thats fine, I hold the GMC with contempt. They are irrelevant critters when you consider the grand scale of the universe.

Are the bloggers awake? I doubt it. Then again, we should say they aren't awake because its none of them are facing the GMC Towers. If they were facing GMC Towers, we would hear uproar. Dr India used to be a member of the Doctors Only website. He had friends and colleagues there. Where are those friends and colleagues now?

The medical profession is such an elitist, self centred profession. So judgmental of those who find themselves in troubled times.

Of course, the facts are that today it is Adam Osborne, the golden boy of the establishment who is suspended, tomorrow it will be many many doctors on many many frivolous charges. Why? Because those that paid the subscription fees allowed the GMC to become as dysfunctional as it is now. The GMC is like a uncontrolled child that has never been punished or its action. It has never learned that we live in an era of human rights not communism.

I believe the sentences below were placed online by Dr Liz Miller sometime ago and everyone simply got on with their lives. One thing is for sure, when others fall into trouble times, none of us will be there. That is because " others" were not there for their colleagues.

Relicensing is due.......... and time is ticking.

Just takes one minute for the fortune of a doctor to turn sour

Dr Scot Jnr and Dr India

Dr Chris Kelly [ GMC Assessor] would say that because
Gandhi fought for his rights and argued with
many people, he may have had a personality disorder.

"An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied
propagation, nor does truth become error because nobody sees it".

Mohandas K Gandhi.

Apologies for the shut blog this week. I was getting a bit tired of GMC observers prowling around like a bunch of obsessive gremlins. Our servers were filled with them. Their searches were "Needham, Pal, Paice" and "Paice, Pal, Needham". You would think that they had better things to do.

In the week I have been gone, the GMC have suspended Dr Adam Osborne. A bit mean I thought. Even those who end the lives of patients don't get that sort of sanction. An example is the Halton Hospital Trio. No suspensions were placed on Manchester Infirmary Radiologist Dr Gerry Murphy. Gerry Murphy though is happy working while being charged at the GMC.

Secondly, I see Dr Scot Jnr has come out of wearing a kilt and commented in the Sunday Mail. Remedy UK and I are quoted there. I should actually fluff my feathers really. Cripes, I suppose when I do stop aiming to be a airhead, I can be actually be quite intelligent really. Amazing!

In the meantime, Dr Chris Kelly and mates are currently behaving unfairly. Nothing new at GMC towers then. Must be peachy to be a GMC Assessor and trampling all over people's rights.

Can Elizabeth Paice Find the "Abuse Button"???

London Deanery in Abuse Button "SHOCK".

Over the last few days, we have all be debating the issues concerning Elizabeth Plaice. Plaicey has essentially been moaning to the GMC about the true extent of her " shock" . I admit the criticism was made with Art Nouveau lyrical precision with an anglosaxon expletives influence. I thought it was a masterpiece myself. Once I get the entire post, I am going to submit it to the Summer Art Exhibition in London. The artiste in question is none other than surgeon and Scotsman Dr Scot Jnr.

As the vast majority of the medical world has no admiration for contemporary art, I decided to study this Scottish masterpiece.

The Filthy Pen has a lot to say about the use of the anglosaxon expletive. This is what the blog says

"Each of today's graffitists has opted to write a single Anglo-Saxon expletive, and to liven up their chosen word by labouring over its style. And what flourishes they’ve applied. Embellished with artful curves and loops, the opportunities to air their creative bents have not been wasted. They may only have had four letters to work with, but they’ve all managed to create mini masterpieces out of their limited resources"

Timothy Jay the researcher on language states

"If all science on language stopped now, we would know very little about dirty word usage or how dirty word usage relates to more normal language use."

Person Elizabeth Plaice.

In 1975 the Australian linguist B. A. Taylor published a serious study of abusive language in the Australian context. He began his paper thus:

If English were...a Germanic language spoken in Northern Delaware, and particularly if it were the language of some indigenous tribe, it is pretty certain that some enterprising anthropologist would long since have recognised and described the subsystem of taboo language contained within it.

Expletive Deleted is well worth a read. Scot Jnr's masterpiece is therefore a reflection of the times we live in, inspired by the fact that times have moved on as has language. Plaice of course has not moved on. She lives in her ivory tower and dictates. That is what she is good at and that is why everyone hates her.

So what we find terribly offensive really depends on the social norm. This morning, I woke up to find some comments made by Dr Elizabeth Miller. Here they are :-

"People who are shocked by words alone, as opposed to descriptions of real events, lack experience of life. They belong to the "I didn't like the way he looked at me" rather than the "I didn't want my friend to die in custody" school of thinking.

Reasons for such hypersensitivity might include an overprotected life, an over inflated salary, too many layers between the person and what matters, too much power and too little responsibility.

Words alone are not shocking, only the meaning they convey. Perhaps Dr Scott's words hit home because in that tiny vestigial structure that was once her soul, she recognised a truth.

In the meantime, I believe we should all raise our game and aspire to surpass the literary bar raised by Dr Scott Junior - Dr Rant, it's over to you

For the record, I have had far less controversial posts removed from [Doctors only Website]. All a person has to do is press the "report this post" button, the moderators come scuttling and it instantly disappears, as if by magic. Why it took EP seven days to find the button, heaven only knows!

I resigned from [Doctors only Website] early this year largely for this reason. It is not a safe plaice.

We must not of course forget the " shock" caused to other doctors due to Plaicey's negligent actions. One is that of Dr Vijay Jhadav. The other was Tushar Bhadra whom she threatened. There are many many others, the MMC doctors, whistleblowers and others. Plaicey feels everyone else should be held accountable but her. Her response shows that she is of the view she has godlike power to rule everyone on earth. It is time for her resignation now. As a person pointed out last week - it is time London Deanery had a change of management. No one will have confidence in Elizabeth Plaice after the end of this complaint - even if she is vindicated. I also wanted to know her role in Debra Shepherd. I would like to know who reported Debra Shepherd's posts to the GMC. If Plaicey had her claws in Debra Shepherd then we shall then continue to redefine the concept of "shock" . I am still very annoyed about what happened to Debra. I haven't forgotten - just because many other people forget.

Professor Paice/Carol Black. Respect Should be Earned, Not Demanded.

Respect - Paice Has to Earn It

I understand from the blogsphere that most people with tame vocabulary have given Dr Scot Jnr rather a frosty reception. We are still unclear whether the post referred to Carol Black or Professor Paice. She writes "The extracts from the posting which concerned me particularly are as follows". Depending where the emphasis it placed, it may have concerned Paice herself or Carol Black. The entire post was not provided by the GMC despite being appended by Elizabeth Paice. We are waiting for the entire post. This is what Dr Scot Jnr stated.

"As a representative of the medical profession you represent, at best, a mendacious, avaricious self serving career power chaser with many psychopathic personality traits and at worst a malignant, destructive, ignoble, dishonourable empty husk of soiled humanity…… You may also wish to think about inserting your immaculate portfolio up your anal orifice…... … it is about time you shut your malignant, shit encrusted stoma of a mouth and fucked off to your witches' bastard palace and pontificated to a coven of shitbags more receptive to your line of thinking...”

Now, we should get certain matters in perspective here, the laws of the land dictate that free speech is absolute. The case law does not support Professor Paice. The legal directive is discussed here.

This is the case law

"REDMOND-BATE Appellant - and -DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS Respondent Case No: CO/188/99

The quote is

"Free speech includes not only the inoffensive but the irritating, the contentious, the eccentric, the heretical, the unwelcome and the provocative provided it does not tend to provoke violence. Freedom only to speak inoffensively is not worth having. What Speakers’ Corner (where the law applies as fully as anywhere else) demonstrates is the tolerance which is both extended by the law to opinion of every kind and expected by the law in the conduct of those who disagree, even strongly, with what they hear. From the condemnation of Socrates to the persecution of modern writers and journalists, our world has seen too many examples of state control of unofficial ideas. A central purpose of the European Convention on Human Rights has been to set close limits to any such assumed power. We in this country continue to owe a debt to the jury which in 1670 refused to convict the Quakers William Penn and William Mead for preaching ideas which offended against state orthodoxy"

The problem for Elizabeth Paice is that free speech gives Dr Scot Jnr a very very wide berth. Over the years, hundreds of young doctors have had the same thoughts and haven't said anything. The problem with Dr Scot Jnr's remark is that he was essentially right.This is a excellent description of the current upper echelons of power. It could be applied to any of them. To demand politeness, Paice has to have acted with fairness over the years. The above order of words is nothing compared to the lives she has ruined over the years. This is no simple issue, Paice has purposely, maliciously and vindictively ruined doctors lives and there has been no accountability for it. Black seems to have done the same with the MMC.

I believe doctors who lead a fairly cushy existence forget about what it is like to have your rights violated. So, I would stand by each of the sentences written by Dr Scot Junior, I would also defend his right to say it. In a world that lacks accountability, if Dr Scot Jnr had not said it, the issue of violation of human rights of doctors would not be at the forefront. Seniors have happily carried on their merry way. The above is a frustrated outpourings of a doctor who knew there was no accountability or process of accountability for any senior's actions. This is what people do when there are no more options left. It is evidence that the doctors are not happy with the current system. They are also fed up of being trapped and having their careers used as a sword of democles each time they say something to defend themselves.

Did Elizabeth Paice/Black care about any of the doctors who had fallen by the wayside courtesy of the MMC? Of course, they didn't. It is clear that Paice apparent "shock" at the above comments is nothing compared to the "shock" suffered by many many doctors over the years. These are the doctors who have been powerless to defend themselves against her. She should ask herself what she did about all the dead patients on Ward 87. Did they find it a "shock" to be found dead because she sat back and did nothing?

There are some schools of thought that say that we should forget what Paice did, move on as they feel it won't make a difference. That is of course one school of thought but a different school of thought is that the right to free speech is worth defending. There were ways that Paice could have dealt with matters out of hours had she felt uncomfortable about the post, she could have asked for its removal and she could have defended herself/or her colleague. If she was in so much " shock" she could have sought counselling. Afterall, that is what her solution to whistleblowers who report the death of patients. What she did was opt to teach Dr Scot Jnr a lesson for having the temerity to criticise her. And that was the bottom line.

Will the GMC protect her? Probably - they hunt on here for my representations of the issue constantly. That is of course absolutely fine because I break most norms that exist within GMC Towers. I suspect I am rather different, I am a hybrid between being Indian and English. I don't value politeness in the absence of actual action. I don't value facades and I don't think any doctor should be "nice" to Professors until they start developing some insight into the repercussions of their actions. If Dr Scot Jnr had said the above in India, no one would judge him. They do judge him in the UK, with a fine yardstick of how the establishment expect doctors to behave. The public expect doctors to stand up for them and against the violation of human rights.

There are some people in life who don't deserve to be treated with respect. They have to earn that respect not demand it. Paice/Black have yet to earn the respect of junior doctors.

It is a great shame that so many people give up so easily. Then that is because the medical profession sleeps. That is why Paice gets away with all abuses of power because everyone fears to tread but prefers to take the line of political correctness.

Paicing Herself.

The Icy Response

A formal complaint was made to the General Medical Council regarding Professor Elizabeth Paice. The details of this can be read here.

The response to the complaint was made recently. The GMC disclosed the following response from Professor Paice to me today.

Perhaps the posters on the Doctors Only website could confirm the accuracy of the statements made by Paice. If there are any elements of further dishonest behaviour, please will the relevant people let me know. I am due to write a rebuttal to this response which should be a rather simple matter. I am always happy to have additional input,views and opinions to include within my response. I have until the 28th November 2008 apparently. Secondly, please note that Paice has not defended herself against the substantive allegations made against her listed in my formal complaint.

The material is published in line with the GMC's own transparency guidance.

Response to Complaint: GMC Reference C1-220901005

1. I am a postgraduate dean, a role I have held since 1995. I have responsibility for managing the postgraduate education and training of doctors in London.

2. Doctors.net.uk is a professional network for GMC registered doctors and UK medical students. A clinical discussion forum area is provided for professional discussion, and according to Doctors.net.uk this is used by more than 20,000 doctors in a 30 day period. There are open and closed fora in the area. One open forum is entitled ‘Air your views to the media’ and it is clearly stated to contributors that this forum is also open to a list of named journalists.

3. On 12 July, 2008 an open letter addressed to a senior member of the profession was posted by ‘abrachmackay’ on the ‘Air your views to the media’ forum. When I read this I was shocked by the abusive and offensive language used. I append the full posting. The extracts from the posting which concerned me particularly are as follows: “As a representative of the medical profession you represent, at best, a mendacious, avaricious self serving career power chaser with many psychopathic personality traits and at worst a malignant, destructive, ignoble, dishonourable empty husk of soiled humanity…… You may also wish to think about inserting your immaculate portfolio up your anal orifice…... … it is about time you shut your malignant, shit encrusted stoma of a mouth and fucked off to your witches' bastard palace and pontificated to a coven of shitbags more receptive to your line of thinking...”

4. On 16 July 2008, I contacted a colleague who has Board level responsibilities for Doctors.net.uk, and with whom I had previously discussed the use of abusive language on this website. I sent him the posting concerned, which I had copied from the site. He replied, letting me know that he shared my concern and that he had raised it with the executive team. The posting concerned was edited, though not removed, on 17 July 2008. The edited version removed the language that caused me particular concern.

5. On 19 July 2008, having reflected on the case, and having observed that the author of the offensive posting had identified himself as a surgical trainee in Inverness, I sent an email to the postgraduate dean for that part of Scotland, bringing the posting to her attention. I did this because I felt that the language of the posting raised concerns about the professionalism of the individual who wrote it. In alerting his postgraduate dean, I was responding to the fact that this was a doctor in training, whose education was the responsibility of the deanery. I was mindful of Para 46 of Good Medical Practice and considered that his actions could fall within the category of bullying and harassment of a colleague. I was aware of the duty to challenge such behaviour.

6. This was the end of my involvement. I did not, then or later, make any recommendation to Doctors.net.uk, nor to the Scottish deanery, nor to the hospital concerned, nor to anyone else, about how the case should be handled.

7. I believe the action that I took was appropriate and proportionate, in view of the grossly offensive and abusive nature of the posting, in a forum open to thousands of doctors and the media. The posting was not removed or edited for five days, until I brought it to the attention of the web managers as described above.

Professor Elisabeth Paice
Dean Director
London Deanery
14 November 2008