Tipped scales.

 DZ thought that he knew all of the machinations used by the GMC to make it easier to screw over doctors who come before a Medical Practitioners Tribunal.

Such as the original idea that the MPT should be independent of the GMC, which never happened.

Or the change in burden of proof from the criminal standard, (beyond reasonable doubt) to the civil, (balance of probabilities).

Or the fact that the only appeal against the penalty set by a fitness to practice hearing is to the High Court, an expensive, daunting and difficult path making appeal almost impossible for most doctors.

But what I didn't know was that, if the GMC themselves are dissatisfied with the judgement of a FPH and want a more severe punishment, then they themselves do have an appeal system for that. An appeal pathway not open to the accused doctor. And who gets to adjudicate this appeal of the GMC. Why the GMC themselves of course. 

The government noticed this and recommended abolition of this unfair practice over six years ago but nothing happened.

I din't know why the fuckers bother with a FPH at all. It's so biased against the doctor that it would be laughable if the consequences weren't so devastating

Be nice.

 Like most people, DZ has occasionally opened the door to evangelising individuals, purporting to be concerned for your welfare, and offering salvation. Usually, but not exclusively Jehovah's Witnesses. DZ, until recently, has turned them away in a polite and civil manner, but he is aware that many people give in to their irritation and respond rudely or even abusively.

But I have recently read something that points out that this in fact plays into the hands of the cult. That the visit of the faithful is not actually intended to convert you, but to reinforce the brainwashing of those unfortunates on your doorstep.

The whole process is explained here, by Doug Robertson.

So the next time this happens, be nice to them. Offer them a cup of tea. Sit them down. It might actually counter very slightly the brainwashing they are enduring. You could even print off some copies of this article and, when they offer you their leaflets, you offer them a copy of yours. If they accept, suggest to them that every time they endure abuse on the doorstep they should remember what Dr Robertson has written. Make it politely clear you don't share their beliefs but express sympathy for their predicament. I've actually done this once with a middle aged pair of JW's and explained how they were being brainwashed. They actually lost their temper! And left. Result!

Earth Day

So yesterday, 22nd April, was "Earth Day". DZ is aware that various climate activist groups are not popular in the UK. But despite the disruption they undoubtedly cause, no-one can doubt their commitment, sincerity, and commitment to protest in a peaceful manner. Those familiar with DZ blog will know he is almost obsessive about the Human Rights Act 1998, and there are a number of articles of the act that protect those who wish to protest peacefully.

• Article 5: Right to liberty and security
• Article 6: Right to a fair trial
• Article 7: No punishment without law
• Article 8: Respect for your private and family life, home and correspondence
• Article 9: Freedom of thought, belief and religion
• Article 10: Freedom of expression
• Article 11: Freedom of assembly and association

All of the above are invoked to a greater or lesser degree by those who protest. The present government has demonstrated an antipathy to the act, and even suggested it's abolition. It's an ambition that, for the time being seems to be on the back burner. However two recent very disturbing  cases illustrate that it's observation seems to be under attack. 

The first is the case of Trudi Warner.

 who faced a charge of contempt of court for simply holding up a placard outside a court. Fortunately the high court judge threw the case out. What is really disturbing is that the high court judge drew attention to the actions of the Attorney General, and the Solicitor General, which were described as "significantly mischaracterising the evidence". Let's translate that. They lied! The most senior lawyers in government fucking lied to try and charge this lady for doing something she had every right to do!!!

 

The second case is that of Dr Sarah Benn.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service has ruled Dr Sarah Benn's fitness to practise was impaired and said it must consider whether a sanction should be imposed on her registration. For participating in a peaceful protest, in defiance of a court injunction.

Let's leave aside for a moment the idea that the human rights act can apparently be over-ridden by the courts, something I find highly questionable. What is astounding is that she could face suspension, or even erasure for "Obstructing a private road." The GMC, and the tribunal service have a long history of disdain for the human rights act, and seem to think it doesn't apply to them. Also these tribunals are usually made up of complete amateurs who know nothing about the law. And as well as their arogance, they are inconsistent. 

"In January 1999 the Standards Committee of the GMC met to consider issues involving the behaviour of doctors who comment in the media. It was their view that the GMC should not attempt to curtail doctors' rights to express their personal opinions. Doctors, like anyone else commenting in the media, are subject to the same constraints imposed by media regulatory bodies, and the libel laws. Furthermore, the committee considered that the professionals reputation depends principally on the standards of care and conduct provided by doctors to their patients, and not on personal opinions as put forward in published letters or articles. Whilst you may disagree with the comments Dr Y has made, we cannot take action against a doctor who is expressing a personal opinion".

Dr Benn's actions have absolutely nothing to do with the standards of care she provides to her patients. I anticipate that, in view of the publicity this case has attracted, and the involvement of the BMA, that the GMC will back off. I expect that they will offer Dr Benn a warning. Dr Benn should be made aware that has the right to refuse a warning. The GMC should be told to fuck off.

Turbo cancers???

 DZ has had a long career in medicine, and while there are plenty of areas where he has very little knowledge, it's not often that he hears of something completely new to him. So it is with "Turbo Cancers". Apparently questions about these have been raised by politicians in the USA. You would have thought that those raising the subject might have taken the time to inform themselves before opening their mouths. Alas not. To quote a former wiser US politician, Abraham Lincoln. "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than speak and remove all doubt."

A very brief google search reveals Turbo cancers to be a figment of the imagination, perpetuated by the anti vaccination loons. As if they haven't done enough damage with their insane misinformation campaigns, which have caused the resurgence of Measles. The USA now has up to four million cases a year, of whom 500 die. Nearly all of these cases and deaths are in the unvaccinated.

The UK figures are not as bad, but are still on the increase.

Most Doctors have the satisfaction of looking at their hands and being pleased with what they have achieved with them over the years. A small number look at theirs and see only blood.

Rapture

 Well, the world didn't end then. But the doom mongers never give up. One characteristic of the prophets of armageddon is they never admit defeat. They never admit they were wrong. Their approach is to claim they simply got the date wrong. And true to form we already have another date. 23 April. I wonder what they'll say on 24th.

Turds

 A small number of you may have noticed a small error in my last post where I put up a pic of Steve Bannon instead of Alex Jones. Now rectified. In my defence I can only say that the mistake was easily made. They are two turds cast in the same mould.

End of the world

 DZ has written before, as long ago as 2011 on predictions that the end of the world is imminent. Despite many hundreds of failed predictions humanity doesn't appear to have learned, and there still seems to be a steady flow of nutters exorting us all to repent before it's too late.

On 5 March there was a relatively minor, (Magnitude 4.8) earthquake affecting New York state, and in two days, on 8 May there will be a solar eclipse visible over much of the USA. This has sent many in the USA to view this as a portent of...... well anything you can think of really. A simple internet search reveals a plethora of disasters predicted to be just around the corner But in particular the religious evangelical loons are predicting that it's finally time for the rapture! Again.

But to put things in perspective. There are 55 earthquakes every day on the planet, mostly minor. There are still however 16 earthquakes a year of magnitude 7 or more. hardly rare enough to be a portent of anything. Solar eclipses occur at a rate of up to 5 a year, and are entirely predictable. Hardly a surprise if you know it's coming. It doesn't stop neo nazis like Alex Jones from predicting "“Major Events Surrounding The April 8th Solar Eclipse, Masonic rituals planned worldwide to usher in New World Order."

Jones is particularly fond of various outlandish conspiracy theories, despite having been successfully sued because of it.

He always reminds DZ of one particular "peanuts" character.

Pigpen.