Nadine Osman
The British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) voiced its concern regarding reports of Muslim doctors being threatened with a referral to the UK’s medical regulator, for expressing any views that ‘advocate for Palestinians’.
BIMA President Dr Salman Waqar wrote to Charlie Massey, CEO of the General Medical Council (GMC), stating that physicians who have voiced similar opinions have been charged with aiding terrorist organisations like Hamas.
‘Reporting has suggested such doctors cannot be trusted, with more offensive commentators suggesting support for Palestine, criticism of Occupation, and calling for ceasefire as being synonymous with supporting fringe or proscribed groups…’ said Waqar in the letter published on October 27.
‘This witch-hunting is an alarming development with threats of public GMC referral and pressuring employers with intimidating language.’
The BIMA’s letter added: ‘We are concerned accusations of such offences are being weaponised to silence critics without any basis or evidence. ‘There is ample space for civil, productive discourse with the opportunity to learn or freedom to passionately disagree.
‘Doctors have rights to freedom of speech and the right to speak out in the pursuit of justice.’
The BIMA, a membership body of over 6,000 Muslim healthcare professionals in the UK, called for the GMC to issue a statement in support of medics who express such views.
Regulators can sanction medics for any behaviour which brings the profession into disrepute. Punishments at the GMC’s disposal include suspending a doctor from work or even permanently banning them from the profession.
The GMC said that doctors, are entitled to their political opinions. But the Council’s focus is on the effect that expressions of political or other personal beliefs may have on patients’ or public confidence in the profession.
In a statement to The Muslim News a spokesman for the GMC said, “In sharing opinions and raising awareness around certain issues doctors must consider how doing so may affect the public’s trust and perception of doctors.
This means doctors do not treat patients unfairly; do not deny patients access to appropriate medical treatment or services and do not cause patients’ distress. The standards expected of doctors on social media do not change when they are communicating online.”
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