Hi - I’m new here but have been educating myself from a distance thanks to Mumsnet, and just have to dive in here as my blood boils every time this unpleasant man pops up in my timeline on twitter.
Apologies for making my first post such a long one.
I find this “trans women are women” Dr deeply concerning as I think the ability to distinguish between men and women is a fairly basic level of knowledge that most all women expect from a Dr.
I think women also expect to be treated with respect, so it is very concerning to find a new breed of younger Dr’s fully paid up to patriarchal paternalistic “I trust you will learn a valuable lesson from this Olivia” attitudes.
I do wonder where he is working at present - in January he was popping up on TV news giving (not unjustified) dire statements and warnings about the winter crisis in the NHS. (Plenty of clips on google). He worked at Scarborough A&E then, but they have confirmed he is no longer working for them. I wonder if he has rotated to another job, as GP trainees do or if Scarborough were less than happy with his media activities. NHS trusts do not look kindly upon this sort of behaviour. Which makes me wonder about his future employment prospects.
I also note, from google, that he has set up a private Dr Adrian Harrop Ltd company. For what I wonder? Heaven forbid this labour activist is moving into private practice? Or maybe he can’t get another job in the NHS and is reduced to doing agency work paid through his personal contracting company? Or preparing for that longed for media career.
I would fully expect to be warned and disciplined by my employer if I behaved as he does on twitter, and I am surprised that the GMC seems to have a very liberal attitude to Drs on twitter as he isn’t the only one unafraid to besmirch his profession out there.
Here is a section on Professionalism and Trust from the NMC Nurses and Midwives code of Practice (available on line):
20 Uphold the reputation of your profession at all times
To achieve this, you must:
20.2 act with honesty and integrity at all times, treating people fairly and without discrimination, bullying or harassment
20.3 be aware at all times of how your behaviour can affect and influence the behaviour of other people
20.5 treat people in a way that does not take advantage of their vulnerability or cause them upset or distress
20.7 make sure you do not express your personal beliefs (including political, religious or moral beliefs) to people in an inappropriate way
20.10 use all forms of spoken, written and digital communication (including social media and networking sites) responsibly, respecting the right to privacy of others at all times.
For more guidance on using social media and networking sites, please visit: www.nmc.org.uk/guidance
21 Uphold your position as a registered nurse or midwife
To achieve this, you must:
21.5 never use your professional status to promote causes that are not related to health, and
21.6 cooperate with the media only when it is appropriate to do so, and then always protecting the confidentiality and dignity of people receiving treatment or care.
In short I don’t think nurses or midwives (who are mostly female) would get away with this sort of behaviour and I’m surprised it seems to be acceptable for Doctors.