The GMC and their ‘abject failure of scrutiny’
Following Alemi’s conviction, Judge Hilary Manley raised concerns about the level of scrutiny the GMC had of the forged documents.
She asked for a statement from a representative, explaining what had happened at the time.
Speaking at the sentence hearing, she said: “Anyone who took more than a cursory glance at the purported degree and letter of verification should have prompted at least a telephone call to the University of Auckland to check and make full enquiries.
AND
However, in a statement provided to the judge by the GMC, it said: “In the mid 1990s these documents were not subject to the rigorous checks now in place. It’s clear the process almost three decades ago was inadequate. 27 years on, the GMC system is much more robust.”
In sentencing Alemi, Judge Manley said: “The quality of the spelling, grammar and printing in that document [the letter of verification] should have alerted even the most casual reader that something was very much amiss, but, for whatever reason, it appears even the most basic checks, such as a telephone call or letter to the School of Medicine, which would have confirmed immediately that the Registrar named in the letter was no longer in post, and that in any event you had not completed your degree, were not carried out.
“That the degree certificate and supporting letter were accepted by the GMC represents an abject failure of scrutiny.”
AND
The judge called for the GMC to conduct a “thorough, open, transparent” inquiry into how the defendant was able to submit “such clearly false documents” and why it took a journalist rather than a professional governing body to uncover the truth.
AND
“Your autism however does not preclude you from also being highly manipulative and cunning.
“I also note that during the course of the trial, through your lawyers, you sought to portray almost every prosecution witness as inept or dishonest, and called into question the integrity and impartiality of an expert witness. You are of course not to be punished for that, but I am entitled to take it into account when assessing whether you have any remorse (you do not) or insight (you have none).”
Una Lane, Director of Registration and Revalidation at the GMC, said: “We are very sorry that Zholia Alemi was able to join our medical register in the 1990s, based on fraudulent documentation, and for any risk arising to patients as a result.
“Our processes are far stronger now, with rigorous testing in place to make sure those joining the register are fit to work in the UK. It is clear that in this case the steps taken almost three decades ago were inadequate. We are confident that, 27 years on, our systems are robust.
“Patients deserve good care from appropriately qualified professionals and place a great deal of trust in doctors. To exploit that trust and the respected name of the profession is abhorrent.”