The General Medical Council (GMC) has once again demonstrated its institutional racism and disregard for fairness. Two years ago, in a high-profile case involving an Indian doctor, Sasha Rodoy disrupted the proceedings by openly threatening the panel of judges after the false accusations she had brought began to fall apart. This caused the panel to recuse itself, leading to the dismissal of the hearing and wasting millions in public money. This dismissal came after an already lengthy five-year delay.
Rodoy was subsequently banned from attending any further GMC hearings due to her outrageous conduct. However, it has now come to light that the entire situation was a setup, and that Rodoy has been working with the GMC on multimillion-pound compensation cases. Shockingly, despite her past behavior, Rodoy has been invited to attend the hearing again, which is scheduled to restart on Tuesday. This decision has sent shockwaves through the medical community, with many left questioning the integrity of the GMC.
This case highlights the racism embedded within the GMC’s procedures. An alarming seventy-five percent of doctors taken to Fitness to Practice (FTP) hearings are from Pakistan or India. The threshold for taking action against these Asian doctors is significantly lower than that of their white counterparts, revealing a clear bias in how cases are handled. This situation creates an environment where doctors of Asian descent are disproportionately targeted, ensuring they do not rise above their white peers.
When contacted for comment, the GMC remained silent, providing no response to questions about the decision to allow Rodoy back into the hearing. This silence only further confirms that the hearing is merely a formality, with outcomes already predetermined. Many have begun to question why the GMC even bothers with the pretense of a hearing when the final decision is so clearly rigged.
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS), which is supposed to oversee these hearings, is itself a division of the GMC. Judges in the MPTS are paid by the GMC, and any complaints made against them are handled internally by the GMC. This blatant conflict of interest undermines the entire system, proving that these hearings are nothing more than an eyewash designed to give a veneer of legitimacy to decisions that have already been made.
The fact that Rodoy has been welcomed back despite her prior misconduct is a clear indication of this collusion. In any other situation, Rodoy’s actions would have warranted police involvement. Yet, the GMC has protected her, allowing her to continue influencing proceedings in the Indian doctor’s case.
Asian doctors in the UK face systemic racism that holds them back from achieving their full potential. Until they rise up and challenge this unjust system, the colonial legacy of the GMC will continue to suppress their contributions to the medical profession.