Faith Under
Fire.......
A UK doctor faces losing his job after allegedly preaching
God to a patient.
General Medical Council
by Nisha Chopra
A Kent doctor faces losing his job after allegedly preaching God
to a patient.
It comes after a mum complained that Dr Richard Scott abused his
position by 'pushing religion' on her son.
The family, GP who practises at Bethesda Medical Centre in
Margate, said in response to the complaint made last year: "I
offered him an opportunity to discuss whether faith in God through
Jesus might be an advantage to him."
He also added: "I dealt with the medical issues, so to say I
merely offered him Jesus is a nonsense."
But despite the 50-year-old insisting he had the patient's consent
to discuss faith matters - he now faces being struck off by the
General Medical Council, which has accused him of harrassment.
The family GP said: "In their view I've overstepped the mark and I
have exploited a vulnerable patient. I say not at all."What do you
think? Join the debate by adding your comments below
However two local MPs have condemned the GMC for seeking to
reprimand Dr Scott for discussing his religious beliefs with
patients.
South Thanet`s MP, Laura Sandys said: "We totally appreciate that
medical standards need regulating, but monitoring and then
sanctioning doctors on conversations with patients, that do not
relate to their medical condition, must be a matter between the
individuals and dealt with locally."
She added: "The GMC has over-reacted and needs to put an end to
mis-placed activism that is putting a respected doctors'
profession on the line."
"This doctor's natural instinct to make reference to Christianity
is not a matter for the GMC, it is matter for his conscience and
beliefs."
North Thanet MP Roger Gale said: "Nobody is saying that a doctor
ought to be a Christian, or of any other faith, but to treat faith
as an active disqualification, as the GMC apparently seeks to do,
is unacceptable."
He added: "It is not up to the GMC to play God."
Dr Scott is taking legal action against his censure as he is
adament no guildelines were breached.
He said: "most people are aware we're a Christian practise and if
anyone doesn't want to speak about it we stop."
The GMC said its guidance was that "doctors should not normally
discuss their personal beliefs with patients unless those beliefs
are directly relevant to the patient's care.
"They also must not impose their beliefs on patients, or cause
distress by the inappropriate or insensitive expression of
religious, political or other beliefs or views."