The UK General Medical Council has issued a formal apology for taking regulatory action in historical cases against doctors who had criminal convictions under homophobic laws that have since been repealed. The GMC’s chair, Carrie MacEwen, said the regulator was “truly sorry” for compounding the harm done to doctors who had convictions that would today be considered unjust.1
From 1899 to 1994 the GMC considered cases against at least 40 male doctors for engaging, or attempting to engage, in consensual sexual activity and intimacy with other men. Of those, at least eight were struck off the medical register. The last confirmed …
Regulatory action against doctors that was based on now repealed homophobic laws casts a long shadow, say campaigners. They welcome a formal apology issued by the medical regulator this week but they say that LGBTQ+ doctors still face prejudice in the workplace, writes Abi Rimmer
An apology from the General Medical Council (GMC) for past regulatory action, taken against doctors who were convicted under now repealed homophobic laws, represents progress and is the result of concerted efforts by the regulator’s staff. But the historical persecution of LGBTQ+ doctors still looms large and it continues today, say campaigners.
Carrie MacEwen, GMC chair, said this week (22 February) that the medical regulator was “truly sorry” for taking regulatory action against at least 40 male doctors who, in historical cases, had criminal convictions under homophobic laws (box 1). At least eight of them were struck off the medical register.
Box 1
### The GMC apology in full
“The General Medi
Doctors professional standards updated to zero tolerance approach to sexual harassment itv.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from itv.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The General Medical Council (GMC) has set out its position on sexual harassment by doctors towards other doctors for the first time in its professional standards guidance.
The updated version of Good Medical Practice ,1 which details the principles, values, and standards expected of doctors working in the UK, also sets out for the first time what doctors should do if they witness bullying or harassment.
Carrie MacEwen, GMC chair, said, “Sexual harassment, bullying, and discrimination are entirely unacceptable. Where workplace cultures of this kind of behaviour go unchecked, they are detrimental to wellbeing, performance, and patient safety. Doctors are increasingly, and bravely, speaking out about it, and as a regulator, it is important we leave no doubt that such behaviour has no place in our health services.”
The updated guidance says that doctors “must not act in a sexual way towards colleagues with the effect or purpose of causing offence, embarrassment, humiliation or dis