Message from Remedy UK
a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://farm1.static.flickr.com/170/424497484_a20ac8b02f.jpg?v=0″img style=”margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;” src=”http://farm1.static.flickr.com/170/424497484_a20ac8b02f.jpg?v=0″ alt=”" border=”0″ //abr /br /span style=”font-style: italic;font-size:100%;” Dr Rant would like to draw your attention to the following communication from Remedy UK, the newly formed representative body for junior doctors. They have already raised just over £15,000 pounds to launch this action, so just a bit more is needed to lace up the boot that will hopefully get stuck far up the Establishment and the GMC’s arses.br /br //spanspan style=”font-style: italic;”This case has a wider implication regarding regarding the dearth of accountability and the sham that is the ‘independence’ of the Quangos that have proliferated under this government. Let’s try to make them accountable. /spanspan style=”font-style: italic;font-size:100%;” Even if you are not a doctor, please consider donating as you can then regard yourself as a moral stakeholder in the endeavour, and enjoy the resulting carnage all the more./spanbr /br /br /div style=”text-align: center;”a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tphMnL4vxbs/SVoapd4Cw2I/AAAAAAAABN0/VVUDqViYUlo/s400/RemedyUK-Logo.JPG”img style=”margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 115px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tphMnL4vxbs/SVoapd4Cw2I/AAAAAAAABN0/VVUDqViYUlo/s400/RemedyUK-Logo.JPG” alt=”" border=”0″ //aspan style=”;font-family:times new roman;font-size:200;” span style=”font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;” The Double Standards Challenge/span/spanbr //divspan style=”;font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;” br /br /br /br /br /In August of last year 1600 people wrote to the GMC requesting an enquiry into the conduct of the architects of MTAS. Many of you stepped up to make the biggest referral in the GMC’s history. This level of support indicated that Remedy were right to be calling for universal accountability in the medical profession – one rule for all. It reassured us that we were not looking back at 2007, but forwards to a fairer future where serial errors at the highest level aren’t brushed under the carpet.br /br /Those of you who signed may have been as disappointed as we were to learn that the GMC rejected this request for an enquiry into the fitness to practice of the architects of MTAS. You may not be surprised to learn that Remedy intends to challenge this decision.br /br /There is a wider point of principle here – one which affects all doctors. Should those entrusted with the highest responsibilities in medicine be above the law? Or are they as accountable as the rest of us in our own individual fields of practice? Do the concepts of accountability and revalidation apply to some but not to others? Is the GMC applying double standards? These questions rise above the events of 2007.br /br /We plan to take the GMC to judicial review, and have mobilised our legal team. But we can’t continue until we have raised sufficient funds. We’re asking for a one-off donation of between £10 and £50 by you to make this happen. We have just a few weeks to raise the money – time is of the essence. To donate now click herebr /br /br /span style=”font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;” The story so far/spanbr /br /In October 2008 Remedy wrote to the GMC on behalf of 1600 signatories expressing concern about MTAS and the Specialty Selection and Recruitment (SSR) disasters of 2007. A series of enquiries and reviews condemned these processes but failed to establish responsibility. We asked whether the professional and managerial actions of the people responsible could amount to misconduct and/or deficient professional performance. We then requested a full GMC Fitness to Practice enquiry to resolve these uncertainties.br /br /In December we heard that the GMC had refused to submit the case to a lay or medical examiner. This has meant that those responsible for the ‘biggest disaster in a generation’ have not been subjected to independent professional scrutiny for their actions. We believe this constitutes a reflex rejection of the most widely supported GMC referral in the history of the medical profession.br /br /Remedy believes that this GMC decision should be challenged as a benchmark for future practice and conduct, and we are prepared take legal action to try to have it reversed. We have strong legal arguments in our favour, a first class legal team and the courage of our convictions. It will be a test case for impunity in the medical profession.br /br /We now need to raise the money to pay for a day in court. You can make a donation and play your part in securing one rule for all.br /br /span style=”font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;” Why Remedy referred the case to the GMC/spanbr /br /Our specific complaints related to:-br /br /* The unfitness for purpose of the computer system, the shortlisting and interviewing system,br /* The lack of piloting and the decision to proceed before it had been shown to be fit for purpose, andbr /* The failure to adequately heed or address the risks that were identified in advance.br /br /The impact on individual doctors, their patients and the medical community were well documented. Many different people were responsible, some of whom were doctors. None of those that we identified have seen fit to resign their posts, nor have their employers seen fit to sack them.br /br /We consider this action an essential step:br /br /* to maintain the good reputation of the profession in the eyes of other doctors and the general publicbr /* to protect the public and the public purse against future equivalent mismanagementbr /* to rebuild trust. Acting with impunity will harm the profession, patients and taxpayers.br /br /The GMC decision to reject the case was made on two grounds.br /br /1. the alleged misconduct is not relevant to the fitness to practice of these doctors, andbr /2. allegations of deficient performance must be concerned with poor performance in a clinical setting.br /br /We refute these arguments, and have written a detailed summary of the legal arguments and case law.br /br /br /span style=”font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;” What we plan to do/spanbr /br /If the GMC maintains its position we will seek a judicial review of their decision. Judicial review is a legal process whereby a public body is challenged in court for acting illegally or irrationally, or for making a decision improperly. If we succeed, the GMC can be ordered to reconsider its decision by the courts. Judicial review in the High Court is the legal technique that Remedy used in 2007 to challenge the Secretary of State for Health.br /br /Our lawyers have sent a ‘letter before action’, and are asking for a review of the specified decision. We have also sent a Freedom of Information request to determine how the decision was reached and whether or not there were any improper procedures or inappropriate influence.br /br /We want to establish whether or not the GMC has jurisdiction in cases like this. If not then have the ‘great and the good’ become unimpeachable?br /br /Now it is up to youbr /br /If you don’t support this action, it can’t go ahead – Remedy doesn’t have the cash reserves to fund it. We believe the whole medical profession will benefit from the case going forward – not just those affected by the 2007 reforms but all doctors with a legitimate interest in issues of accountability and impunity.br /br /We need to raise a minimum of £20,000 by March 2009.br /br /What you can dobr /br /This is a landmark case which could change GMC case law to the benefit of every doctor now and in the future.br /br /We’re asking for donations from individual doctors of between £10 and £50. You can donate by credit card, direct debit, bank transfer or Paypal. All donations will be anonymous.br /br /We’re also happy to accept donations from corporate sponsors.br /br /If every signatory to our Unfinished Business petition gave just £20, we’ll reach our target.br /br /br /To make your donation a href=”http://www.remedyuk.org/index.php/component/option,com_mh2treasury/Itemid,614/”click here/abr /br /br /Thank youbr /The Teambr /RemedyUKbr /Hotline number 0845 6431821br /br /a href=”http://www.remedyuk.org”www.remedyuk.org/a/span
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