DROWNING RATS ON THE SINKING SHIP OF WICKED LIES

Medical professionals support Southall

Professionals against Child Abuse write to The Lancet in support of Dr David Southall.

The Lancet has published a letter from an organisation called Professionals Against Child Abuse supporting David Southall after the High Court turned down an attempt to overturn the General Medical Council's decision to stike him off the medical register.

The organisation was formed "in response to high profile cases against paediatricians" and the letter states that they are

"astonished that Mr Justice Blake considered David Southall “was speculating on non-medical matters in an offensive manner entirely inconsistent with the status of an independent expert” by accusing a mother of murder when the senior and independent social worker present at the time testified that he did no such thing, stating in her report “I am certain that Professor Southall did not make such an allegation during that interview”."

They also report that the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health voted to express grave concerns about the Fitness to Practise procedures of the GMC at their AGM last year.

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Professionals Against Child Abuse express support for David Southall
Professionals Against Child Abuse (PACA) is astonished that Mr Justice Blake considered David Southall “was speculating on non-medical matters in an offensive manner entirely inconsistent with the status of an independent expert” by accusing a mother of murder when the senior and independent social worker present at the time testified that he did no such thing, stating in her report “I am certain that Professor Southall did not make such an allegation during that interview”.
When any doctor interviews parents after a death of a child, they have to consider the possibility of natural and unnatural causes. Since April, 2008, this has been a statutory role as part of the Child Death Review process in England. Indeed, Southall was instructed as an expert to undertake this interview by the Family Court, from where we have heard no hint of complaint. It was the mother who complained; her allegation had been previously assessed by a panel of three paediatricians and a former director of social services in 2000 as part of an investigation by Southall’s employer. The mother’s allegation was found to have no basis.
Doctors involved in child protection have been subject to flawed disciplinary hearings in recent years by the General Medical Council (GMC), a body that we believe has been improperly influenced by a skilful and hostile media campaign driven by parents who face child protection investigations and their supporters. The GMC should never have brought this case. Last year, the Annual General Meeting of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health voted to express grave concerns about the Fitness to Practise procedures of the GMC.
The action of the GMC, now endorsed by Mr Justice Blake, further deters paediatricians and other professionals from engaging in child protection. Yet the UK’s Secretary of State for Children, Schools, and Families, Ed Balls, last week stated that “the paediatrician...should act to put the child first and not be deceived by parents covering things up”. Even with a senior independent chaperone, the doctor is now inadequately protected.
PACA believes the High Court judgment to be flawed and hopes this case will go to the Court of Appeal.
PACA wishes to see professionals engaged in child protection able to carry out their role knowing that any complaint will be properly and skilfully investigated. Although there should be debate about the systems for best safeguarding children, medical regulation must not include disciplining those acting in good faith and deemed competent by their peers.
We are all members of Professionals Against Child Abuse. The signatories include paediatricians, lawyers, a nephrologist, dermatologist, anaesthetist, gastroenterologist, psychologist, and an engineer.
Damian Armstrong, *John Bridson, Margaret Crawford, Stephen Cronin, Alison Earley, Peter Ehrhardt, Charles Essex, Rodney Gilbert, Peter Gooderham, Matthew Hall, Sherin Jackson, Benjamin Mathews, Kieran McHugh, Jacqui Mok, David Murray, Jeremy Osman, Heather Payne, Barbara Philips, John Puntis, Asha Ravi, Fawzia Rahman, Detlev Rogahn, Ivor Rowlands, Martin Samuels, Nigel Speight, Rob Wheatley, Catherine Williams, Leonard Williams
john.bridson@doctors.org.uk
Professionals Against Child Abuse, c/o 7 Albany Close, Wombwell, Barnsley S73 8ER, UK