May I start by thanking you for your support to our legal challenge against RCGP and GMC.
You would have learned about the outcome of the challenge to seek fairness and equality. Though we did not succeed in the Judicial Review, the judge in his concluding remarks summed up by saying that the outcome of this case was “if not a legal victory then a moral success for BAPIO".
The Honourable Judge did not agree with our claim that the CSA is unlawful but agreed with our concern about the results of the examination. He acknowledged that ethnic minority medical graduates were put at a disadvantage by the current assessment. The Hon Judge noted: “Endless amount of research has been commissioned to date with no solutions or action points; it has taken a court case to effect action”. He further added that “RCGP should now take action, including by selecting more representative examiners and role-players for the assessment” and that "If it does not act and its failure to act is the subject of a further challenge in the future, it may well be that it will be held to have breached its duty".
We are naturally extremely disappointed with the verdict. However, our campaign team felt vindicated with the judge stating that “the claim had been brought in good faith and in the public interest”, expressing a hope that it would lead to progress. The Hon Judge said “The bringing of this claim is likely, in the end, to bring something of benefit to the medical profession.” Although we may have lost the battle at this time, we feel we have won the war because the judge has instructed RCGP to take action.