Dr Rant is disturbed by information circulating both on doctors.net.uk and sent to him by email from people close to the story.
We were aware at the start of the Dr Scot Junior trauma that there had been reports of other doctors who had been referred to the General Medical Council because of things they had said on the doctors-only website.
One of those doctors, Debra Shephard, committed suicide in June/July of this year [was it 2008 or 2007? - Ed.] after the GMC were allegedly sent details of personal things she had posted online.
Who would do such a thing?
Well, Dr Rant readers will not be surprised to learn that the person who allegedly sent these postings to the GMC, leading to the doctor committing suicide, was none other than our old friend.......
Had you going there! As if we could name her here on this site without any direct evidence. But, if we get any then you'll be the first to know.
Why is all of this happening now?
Doctors.net has been a hotbed of dissent for years, but had largely been ignored by power hungry people at the Department of Health and the deaneries. However, when the MMC scandal broke and the BMA - as usual - failed to mount any resistance*, thousands of junior doctors organised Remedy-UK online in a very short space of time.
Worse, the BMA later paid solicitors to argue against Remedy-UK and junior doctors (its own members!) in court. Is the BMA run by the same political elite that runs the deaneries? It would explain the joint letter from Carol Black and then-BMA chairman Jimmy Johnson. Online protest forced Jimmy to lose his job as BMA chairman.
Two online victories for bloggers and the doctors.net forums. Suddenly, the Big Shits were taking notice. Suddenly it occurred to them that this intraweb thingy was actually quite powerful. Suddenly they saw the future - a future without them!
Fortunately for the Grosse Merdes, not only do all the doctors on DNUK have their real names and addresses available to other doctors at the click of a mouse, but DNUK security is a joke. A five year old could hack the login system. Plus, most of the shits in question are doctors, so they have legitimate access to the site.
Reports started circulating that things doctors were posting - even on really private areas such as 'The Couch' meant for doctors in distress - were arriving at the GMC.
Dr Scot Junior was the most high profile, most obvious example of this, but he was almost certainly not the first, and almost certainly not the last.
The pattern runs like this:
- the Great Feacals spot a doctor they don't like (say, someone who thinks patients should get good care even if that means managers have to make sacrifices).
- they make some shit up and suspend/dismiss the target doctor.
- they dig around the doctor's records, personal life, colleagues for something - anything - they can use (they make it clear to others that they can be just as easily gotten rid of if they don't come up with the goods and finger the good doctor).
- target doctor is off work and isolated: they become depressed, paranoid (well, actually, they are out to get them so it's not paranoia - but it sounds like paranoia to anyone who does not know how the NHS works), and their relationships suffer.
- the effects on the doctor's mental health are used as a Circular Argument of Death to prove the suspension was justified.
It's kind of like dunking witches only worse: at least if the witch drowned they were posthumously classed as innocent. The doctor is damned either way.
[Dunking Witches? By Jove Frank! You may have unwittingly stumbled upon the answer to this very problem - Ed]
* [? Did you mean to leave that '*' in the text after the last edit - I give up! - Ed.]
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11 comments:
Well analysed and well said. None of us like to think that our leaders are despots but they are. Let's give this activity its common name: fascism. I think Rita Pal has characterised this behaviour as psychopathic. I wouldn't disagree for one second!
BTW, rewrite this inserting 'patient' where appropriate and you'll get a precise picture of what happens to hundreds of patients every day:
- they dig around the doctor's records, personal life, colleagues for something - anything - they can use (they make it clear to others that they can be just as easily gotten rid of if they don't come up with the goods and finger the good doctor).
- target doctor is off work and isolated: they become depressed, paranoid (well, actually, they are out to get them so it's not paranoia - but it sounds like paranoia to anyone who does not know how the NHS works), and their relationships suffer.
- the effects on the doctor's mental health are used as a Circular Argument of Death to prove the suspension was justified.
I can confirm Dr Pal's last point.
As an applicant to medicine it seems to me that DNUK is like facebook - best just not to use it or else it will be used against you.
Deb
I was going to comment along exactly the same lines. Doctors, patients shafted.
Question those above as a doctor ==> suspended, sacked, no career
Question as a patient ==> shunned, labelled, no treatment
Different people involved but it's the same process: conform or else.
Three's no point fighting these battles separately. Together, we have a much better chance of success.
SCary stuff, if this is true, those that were on a witch hunt to close down free speech should be sacked at once.
Yup- is it true that the GMC are going to look into the Deans who illegally suspended Dr Scot Junior?
Rantypants
We have to call you that due to your female fanbase now.
You say.....
"Doctors.net has been a hotbed of dissent for years, but had largely been ignored by power hungry people at the Department of Health and the deaneries"
????? Really!? Ah yes, we must have missed the point that the covert GMC investigation against me was instigated from DNUK then - year 2000-2001. Anyone recall Brian Keighley? Of course not.
Secondly, Department of Health, the GMC et al have been reviewing matters for years. 7 doctors in total according to those who have approached NHS Exposed [others anonymously] have involved DNUK posts.
I believe you have had a rosey view of the past Dr Rant. Probably because even you felt the rest of us deserved what we got. Who knows! Actually, who cares anymore. I shouldnt really - One court case against DNUK, one court case against the GMC.
Not your ideal heavenly view of medicine is it - and all because of some malicious posters eh. Amazing how matters spread - and what we have to go through to calm the waters. Of course, when it is effectively defended, we are all called litigious! Interesting isn't it.
Why am I annoyed tonight - because DNUK made half my time in medicine hell. [indirectly and directly]. Believe me, its not easy fighting court cases - not remotely. Just that I obviously make it seem as if it is something that is easy.
In retrospect, who needed it, who needed to be defamed, harassed, sent to the GMC - not once but 3 times. And lets get this straight - 4 DNUK posters in total complained to the GMC [ all DNUK posters] with one identified as Dr Woodman. Did I find all that amusing. No I didn't - why was it done. Ah, yes, because I presented "the patients view" on our website.
So, thats 3 GMC Investigations in total on material from DNUK. 2 issues instigated by posters on DNUK.
So, some DNUK posters are no better than Prof Paice.
RP
http://biologicalfeatures.blogspot.com/2007/11/bullying-in-nhs-and-my-mental-health.html
Have a good read Im still in the Health Gulag now
And that doctor who issued the immortal line "Bullying does not seem to have affected his mental health"
He has a closed profile on DNUK and is a GMC examiner/approved psychiatrist
He even has a bronze medal for posts
if you want to know who then get in touch
Please check your source carefully. Debbie died on 13th February 2008 and I find it odd that, to the best of my knowledge, she didn't mention anything about this to friends or family.
She did, however, pose some questions that still deserve to be addressed: http://doctorbloggs.blogspot.com/search/label/Debra%20Shepherd
When the MTAS scheme was proposed I was in the unfortunate position of being the medical student year rep. I was asked by the local Deanery to form a student council to disuss possible issues. The obvious flaws were reported and despite my best efforts ignored. We all know what happened next..........
Since starting work I have been subjected to the psychopathic attention of the local MMC lead. This has led to the normal victimisation, harassment and unsubstantiated complaints. I could report him to the GMC or sue for defamation but there are a few obstacles to this; my colleagues are terrified and unsupportive, my seniors are either part of the problem or cowards, the defence unions and insurers are ineffective and my 'professional' body appears to be corrupt. I've tried diplomacy to no avail.
It is really starting to effect my health and every time I get a letter/e-mail related to work my heart sinks as I expect further harassment. Any advice?
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