Doctors who criticise vaccines or lockdown policies on social media could face being struck off if regulators rule they are guilty of spreading ‘fake news’, according to new guidance from the GMC. The Telegraph has the story.
The core guidance for medics has been updated for the first time in almost a decade to cover media such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. The rules on use of social media include a duty to be “honest” and “not to mislead”, as well as to avoid abuse or bullying.
The draft regulations from the General Medical Council (GMC) – which the watchdog describes as a 21st-century version of the Hippocratic Oath – also say doctors must speak out if they encounter “toxic” workplace cultures that threaten patient safety. And they say medics must take action if they encounter workplace bullying, harassment or discrimination.
The watchdog regulates doctors, who can face a range of sanctions – including being struck off the medical register – if they are found to have failed in their duties.
Charlie Massey, the Chief Executive of the GMC, said… the fundamental principles of the guidance remained the same, but had been updated to reflect the modern world.
“We’ve had feedback that doctors want more clarity on using social media. We are already clear that doctors must be honest and trustworthy in their communications, and are now emphasising that this applies to all forms of communication. The principles remain the same whether the communication is written, spoken or via social media,” he said.
The use of social media by medics has become an increasingly vexed issue during the pandemic, the report adds.
In December a judge ruled that the GMC’s interim orders tribunal had made an “error of law” when it ordered a GP accused of spreading misinformation to stop discussing Covid on social media.
Dr. Samuel White, who was a partner at a practice in Hampshire, raised concerns about vaccines and claimed “masks do nothing” in a video posted last June.
The GMC’s Interim Orders Tribunal imposed restrictions on Dr. White’s registration as a result. But the High Court said this decision was “wrong” under human rights law.
He had claimed “lies” around the NHS and Government approach to the pandemic were “so vast” that he could no longer “stomach or tolerate” them.
In August, the tribunal concluded Dr. White’s way of sharing his views “may have a real impact on patient safety”. It found Dr. White allegedly shared information to a “wide and possibly uninformed audience” and did not give an opportunity for “a holistic consideration of COVID-19, its implications and possible treatments”.
But the GP’s barrister, Francis Hoar, argued the restrictions imposed on his client’s registration were a “severe imposition” on his freedom of expression.
The draft guidance says doctors can be held accountable for promoting misleading information or stepping outside areas of their expertise. They are told to “be honest and trustworthy … make clear the limits of your knowledge.. [and to] make reasonable checks to make sure any information you give is not misleading.
“This applies to all forms of written, spoken and digital communication,” the draft guidance states. And doctors are warned that online rows and trolling could jeopardise their professional futures.
It is of course outrageous that medics should be at risk of losing their career for questioning on Twitter the Government line on its draconian public health interventions. If there’s one thing we were lacking during the pandemic it was not an excess of conformity amongst doctors. The right of medics to ‘informed dissent’ should be strengthened, as per the High Court ruling in favour of Dr. White, not weakened.
On the other hand, there are plenty of Government advisers I can think of who could do with being penalised for “stepping outside areas of their expertise”. Somehow I doubt anything similar will ever be applied to them, however.
Worth reading in full.
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“Researchers Find “A Considerably Negative Effect of School Closures on Student Achievement”
if they hadn’t found an effect we could have closed the schools permanently
Indeed. It could be regarded as something of a relief – it was starting to look as though modern state controlled schooling actually has overall negative effects as far as education is concerned…
That’s not it’s purpose…
Surely it’s to make it much more likely that both parents work and thus boost rents.
The major decline has actually been since it was largely handed over to private scam enterprises in the form of ‘academy chains’ – all sharp suits and pointy shoes for used car salesmen posing as ‘managers’ and ‘executives’.
Whether or no, it is vital that alternatives to indoctrination by state schools remain.
Major decline was from “comprehensive” education via a metastatic DoE
Well, d’uh!
I didn’t know there was a degree in stating the bleeding obvious.
And yet the A level results and GCSE results were the best ever?
Don’t send the kiddies to school at all, and they’ll grow up geniuses, yeah.
Not only are the government trying to cover up the harms they’ve caused over the course of this so-called pandemic, they’re also trying to confuse the hell out of people by telling them black is white, getting people to doubt their own judgment – a well known method of coercive control.
blimey, that required research
Amazing isn’t it? I wonder how much this cost us?
A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive Jacinda Ardern
Sounds a bit like those bears are shitting in the woods again.
‘Researchers’ telling us what we’ve known for 18 months. This needs to end now. Don’t comply. Ditch the masks. Protect the children. Updated website with useful information, resources and links: https://www.LCAHub.org/
Off topic, but this is the latest episode of The People’s Project. One of the new and growing alternative news sources.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_11DW3zZRY
I was in a park today with my young grandchildren, family of five sitting on a bench, both parents masked up the youngest child, about 8yrs old covered her mouth and nose with both hands as we approached and walked past. Eldest grandchild 5 noticed (it did look very odd) asked “nana why is she doing that?” reply “because sadly she has very rude parents who aren’t teaching her how to behave”, grandchild ” well I think she looks very silly” he’ll go far.
Did the maskers hear and react to that?!
They were glaring at me when I glanced back
So covering her mouth and nose with hands that probably weren’t spotless, (what child’s hands are? Mine never were!), is a good way of preventing a virion or anything unhealthy entering her body. What wise parents she has! I would have said ‘Because her parents are hysterical morons dear!’
So come September, I have a couple of days off and I’m taking my son away for a break. After the shameful performance of all involved with teaching over the past 18 months they can royally do one if they think I’m paying a fine. They have completely surrendered any moral authority or high ground on this one.