to feel this GMC investigation was fudged?

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Posted about this a while back. Sorry it's long.

I made a complaint to the GMC about a surgeon who is a family friend. I have a pelvic problem that began during pregnancy. At the time of the circumstances giving rise to the complaint, I was using a wheelchair outside the house. Over dinner with my parents, this doctor offered to visit me. I accepted and he duly came, took a detailed, business-like medical history, viewed scans, asked more medical questions, carried out an uncomfortable examination that involved putting pressure on the pubic bone. No one else was present. He said that he thought he had a treatment that could help me (over the ensuing weeks this turned into an oft-repeated assurance that he could 'completely cure' me to the point that I would live a normal life and bear more children). He recommended a guided injection of steroids/analgesics into the tendon. At the end of the consultation, he stated very firmly that he treated the whole person comprised of mind, body and spirit. I asked what that would involve and he hedged, saying Christ is the true healer. I was desperate for the (free) treatment and am a Christian, so I agreed.

Many hours of incredibly invasive, leading questioning followed, over a period of weeks. (I later discovered that the purpose of this questioning was to 'identify antagonisms'.) I have never known anything like it. He also demanded that my DH was there and subjected him to the questioning at times also. We were bewildered and doubtful that this injection was taking a long time to materialise. I kept checking that he had successfully treated my condition before; he assured me that he had. Then, without warning, he suddenly announced that I had to go and seek forgiveness from a family member for holding anger against them all my life. He pointed out that I was being abandoned to worsening torment because I hadn't done so already. Once I had done this, we were told that the doctor would 'harness' the 'spiritual and physical transformation' that would miraculously follow, making the injection much more effective. His manner during all this was a U-turn from how he'd been during the questioning; it was bullying and very, aggressive. He recounted endless anecdotes of all the other patients these tactics had worked with, along with a cautionary tale of another patient in exactly my circumstances who had suffered 'the worst fate' after refusing to go along with his 'request'. He also warned me that my condition could rapidly deteriorate to the point that I would lose parenting control of my daughter (something I'd earlier disclosed as my greatest fear). After that evening, there were emails reiterating the severity and urgency of my condition and the 'stated ramifications' if I didn't follow the 'prescribed pathway for healing'.

We got out of the situation as best we could and made a formal complaint to the GMC, complete with witness statements from myself and my husband. The doctor responded to say that he had NEVER investigated me, carried out an examination, diagnosed a condition, recommended a treatment or acted as a doctor in any way whatsoever. He was at a loss to know why I had abruptly terminated our friendly chats! He also pointed out that I had 'a long psychiatric history from childhood' and was good at writing (?). (I had panic attacks aged 14 and moderate depression at times during my twenties with one more serious episode.)

The GMC asked my parents to clarify what help the doctor had originally offered, thinking (they said in their report) that it could all have been 'a huge misunderstanding). My parents are ill and feel angry with me for getting a family friend into 'trouble'. They refused to participate. The GMC have closed the investigation without taking any action whatsoever, because:

• All they have to go on is two conflicting reports. The doctor says he wasn't acting as a doctor, which would mean it wasn't anything to do with them. Apparently, since the reports of what happened conflict and there is no other evidence, my witness statement alone isn't sufficient evidence. (This would not be the case if the complaint was more serious.) If the doctor was not acting as a doctor (My husband's witness statement is very similar to mine, BTW).
• The doctor has a clean record up to now and it would take something more serious than this to cause them apprehension.
• Without my parents' involvement they're unable to rule out that this could have been a misunderstanding, as above, with the doctor thinking he was there as a spiritual guide and me thinking he was there as a doctor.

So basically, if you see a patient privately (and this doctor is only in private practice) and then lie through your teeth about what happened, you can do what you like? Especially if you can claim that the patient in question has 'a long history of psychiatric problems?'

This episode was very, very difficult to go through and I'd like to know that it wouldn't happen to anyone else. I'd also like to know that what happened was addressed. Is there anything more that I can do?

I remember your original post.

I don't have any advice because I don't know anything about the complaints process, but you've been well and truly stitched up by the sounds of it. Discrediting someone due to their psychiatric history is the oldest trick in the book and a disgusting thing to do.

He sounds like a horrible character and I hope you find resolution somehow.

Whatan awful experience.

Can you complain to the ombudsman ( I'm in Scotland so may be diff)

My experience of complaining to the NHS is that unless there's v clear evidence of wrongdoing nothing will come of it.

In effect you are asking them to investigate themselves.

I'd love to,say I think you need to move on from it and not let it get to you any more. But that's easy for me to suggest.

Best of luck

I also read your original thread

Surely your dh's statement corroborates yours as he asked him questions?

How on earth did you allow this treatment over such a long period? He brought religion and all sorts of inappropriateness to this situation and both you and your DH just went along?

I've just re read it and I'm not even sure your parents saying anything would be helpful anyway as they weren't in the room - the very best they could say is that at dinner he offered a private medical consultation but they could easily think it was just a friendly chat.

Your parents sound dreadful and I think you've been taken advantage of by a Svengali type arsehole but if there's nothing you can do you will need to move on from it as at least there's no lasting damage apart from broken promises. At least he also didn't perform any procedures on you.

He's a bully , you were vulnerable.

Actually he only laid hands on you once, outside your clothes and felt your pubic bone with no one present ?

And he's denying touching you.

Did he actually provide any medical treatment or just ask lots & lots of questions (which you found understandably intrusive)?

Sorry I didn't read your original thread.

Depending on what services he offers and where he practices, he might be registered with CQC. You could try them. Sounds horrendous.

Thanks for the sympathetic comments. I've moved on from it insofar as I don't let myself dwell on it at all - except for posting here as a sort of last-ditch attempt to get it sorted out.

I will look into the ombudsman.

Laurie Yes, my DH's witness statement entirely corroborated mine and was actually more detailed in places. It seems that's been discounted.

Ladyluck If you can't leave the house and a seasoned professional offers a 'cure' - and it's someone you've been taught to trust all your life and the disclosure is very gradual - you'll put up with a surprising amount.

I just can't believe the medical profession is so unregulated. And lying is rewarded.

Laurie There was only one examination, yes. It was very thorough. The part I remember best is the pubic bone part because it was very painful and involved applying pressure while I sat up without using my arms. Twice. He's denying carrying out any exam or any investigation whatsoever. And he took detailed notes throughout - they must be somewhere.

iklboo He didn't quite reach the point of giving me the guided injection (the promised treatment). The consultations were taken up with lots of medical claims and medical anecdotes, and the questions.

I remember your thread. Do I also remember correctly that you live in an area where the local "great and good" will all know each other and be chums? Really sorry, but I really don't think you'll get anywhere against that sort of "naice upright men stand together" sort of cabal.

The only crack I can see in this is you say he viewed scans. What sort of scans, viewed on what? If he had to go through your usual doctor to get the scans, you can show him up in a lie.

I showed him the scans myself, pausing. You're right, it's a very conservative area. Looking at the scans was the one thing he admitted to having done.

It sounds awful, but, lets take it from the other side.

"AIBU to be horrendously stressed about a false accusation? A friend of the family is saying that I advised her, examined her etc etc etc"

I am not for one moment denying that your story is true, but people do make false and vindictive accusations and I have known of doctors who have committed suicide over it.

I think the main problem is that it was all so informal. If you see a doctor privately, there would be some record - appointment books, payments, a receptionist who booked you on, so immediately it isn't just one person's word against another. What can the GMC actually do with no proof? What do you want done? What would you want done if you were the doctor and it was a false accusation? Surely due process has to be followed and if there is no evidence, there isn't a case, same as in a court of law.

I should probably declare that I am a doctor, and that clearly I think that the story as told is completely unacceptable, but medicine is actually incredibly tightly regulated and getting more litigious by the day. I work 3 days a week and pay £5800 a year in litigation insurance so please don't think that we are unregulated.

Also, apologies as I'm sure you've already tried this, but was there really nothing in the emails that show him behaving in a "medical" way?

Do you have any correspondence at all? Emails, texts , letters, even telephone conversations ?

So, he admits he's looked at the scans but the (local?) GMC board don't see that contradicting his statement that he's never "acted as a doctor"?

Well yes exactly, Green, if he'd been behaving professionally or was concerned to appear to behave professionally, then these records would exist.

As it is, he has control of whether such records ever existed or continue to exist - and the patient can do nothing if he denies it.

There isn't "no evidence" in this case - there's testimony from two witnesses. And that is enough for a court of law.

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I am sorry you went through this.
Did you have SPD? (didn't see your original thread and don't answer if it would be identifying)

I utterly believe you.
He would have got a huge kick out of your being so vunrable.
I too live in an area of medical professionals all backing each other up.

I wish you luck in exposing him as the dangerous fraud he is.

There is correspondence, yes. He sent a number of emails as I think I've already said - talking about a prescribed pathway for healing, the SO urgent and severe nature of my condition, stated ramifications. That sort of thing. He's obviously not having friendly chats, and he's obviously acting in some kind of authoritative, health-related role - in a vague way. At one point in the emails, he is annoyed that I haven't been in touch with him since he made his 'request'. The GMC don't see anything there to breach the regulations (and perhaps don't want to consider that there is evidence there supporting my story of regulations having been breached!).

Green I would respond that if you are going to see a patient in their own home, as a favour, you should be aware of the risks you are taking. As long as it is permitted by the GMC, it should certainly be regulated properly, otherwise what you've outlined sound like a scandalous way for a doctor like this to take advantage. What do I expect anyone to do without proof? Well, is there usually 'proof' of what a doctor says, if he's at liberty to hide his notes and has no problem with lying? I think in theory, the emphasis is on the protection of the more vulnerable party; the patient. Obviously this is a lesser complaint and I'm not likening it to rape, but the principle is the same: what would you say to a rape victim who, months after the incident, found the courage to come forward. Hopefully not, 'well what do you want us to do without proof?'. It should be up to the GMC to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure poor practice is improved. That isn't up to me and if I thought they'd considered this with integrity, I'd be happy to leave it in their hands.

This all sounds horrendous. The Ombudsman will only deal with NHS complaints not properly investigated so doubt that would be an avenue for you.
The problem is the lack of any evidence in the form of records. Sounds like he destroyed them. Did you keep any records, diary entries, anything at all?
Did he request records from your GP/hospital?

Thank you, Mindreader. The answer to your question is yes.

So the problem is as you say that the correspondence bears out his version because of the 'vague way' he is talking about pathway to healing.

It sounds like he didn't use medical language at all ( which may have been deliberate)

cereal The appointments themselves were logged in the diary. I had to complete psychospiritual 'homeworks'; these were submitted to the GMC, as were all emails. He had no contact with my GP; I had my MRI scan reports and X rays to hand. There are no real records, I suppose. My parents have privately confirmed that they were convinced he offered medical help. That would have been the only other 'evidence'.

Can you now appeal?

Is there a regulatory body for the BMC themselves so you can get them to look at the way your complaint was handled if you suspect it was handled in an unprofessional way?