Not sure WHY it's been posted Ded
I won't make a judgement based on press report(s), when the GMC has already suspended this doctor pending investigation.
What I CAN do, since you raised the issue, is to give a balanced response based on facts. Members look for that and are entitled to get it.
A small number of UK doctors fall seriously short of the standards expected of them. Of nearly 240,000 doctors on the General Medical Council ( GMC ) register, 73 were struck off in 2010 ( less than 1/3000 ). That resulted from complaints about 1/70 doctors.
The main concerns are about clinical investigations / treatment ; and respect for / communication with patients.
There is indeed unacceptable variation in practice between different groups of doctors. There are more complaints about male doctors ; older doctors ; doctors who qualified outside the UK ( 2/5 ) ; and GPs.
The NHS is imperfect, but " sloppy " is not a word I would use. There is no evidence that healthcare is better in the Philippines. Members need reassuring - again - that in most cases they can expect safe and effective care, largely free at the point of delivery, when they need it in the UK.
We will always have a tiny minority of rogue doctors. Another Harold Shipman - or Ravi Sondhi - can't be completely prevented despite the best will - and regulation - in the world.
