General Medical Council in firing line on Shipman case

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 28 Feb 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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The General Medical Council (GMC a UK body) is in for some serious criticism following the Shipman Inquiry, according to a health magazine called Pulse.

They received a leaked letter from the inquiry to the GMC. It warns of potential criticism.

According to the letter, the GMC failed to carry out its policy of protecting patients.

The GMC is angry about the leak and has responded to the criticism in the letter, says the GMC.

Dr. Harold Shipman was the UK's worst serial killer ever. He is thought to have killed over 215 patients. The inquiry examined the role the GMC played during Shipman's time as a doctor and after his conviction.

The GMC has been criticised over its investigations, administration, attitude, policies and practices, we are told.

The GMC attacked Pulse magazine for interfering with the processes of the Shipman inquiry.

The letter was sent from the inquiry solicitor (UK word for a lawyer) to the GMC. It says the GMC is being self-serving, biased towards doctors, failing to protect patients, too secretive and acting through expediency rather than principle.

The GMC said that it is a professionally-led regulation in partnership with the public. 14 of the 35 members of the GMC are not doctors, they are lay people.

In a BBC Radio 4 programme a spokesman for the GMC said that the GMC does not deserve to be labelled as an organisation that consists of doctors looking after doctors.

The GMC says that a response will be published in its website very soon.

The GMC got the letter in December, 2003. This was to give it time to respond before the inquiry chair drafted her final report - Dame Janet Smith is drafting the final report.

The letter blames the GMC for not laying down clear policies so that it can properly protect patients. It accuses the GMC of lacking objectivity (its decision makers). It says they lean on the side of doctors rather than the person who complains.

The inquiry found Shipman had killed 215 patients. He hanged himself in his prison cell last month. He had been serving a life sentence for killing 15 patients.