In a shocking display of institutional racism, the General Medical Council (GMC) has once again broken all rules of fairness and transparency. Two years ago, Sasha Rodoy, who had initiated false allegations against an Indian doctor, openly threatened the panel of judges when her case began to fall apart. As a result, the panel recused itself, and the hearing was dismissed, costing millions of pounds in public funds. This dismissal came after an already unacceptable five-year delay in the proceedings.
Rodoy was banned from participating in any future GMC hearings due to her misconduct. However, it has recently been uncovered that Rodoy has been working alongside the GMC on multimillion-pound compensation cases. In a shocking turn of events, she has been invited back to the hearing, which is set to restart on Tuesday. This has left the medical community in disbelief, as this move highlights the GMC’s collusion with Rodoy and their complete disregard for fairness.
The GMC’s actions in this case reveal the deeply ingrained racism within its structure. An overwhelming 75% of doctors subjected to the GMC’s Fitness to Practice (FTP) hearings are from Pakistan or India, while the threshold for prosecuting white doctors remains significantly higher. This practice targets Asian doctors and ensures that they are held back in their careers while their white counterparts are given more leniency.
Efforts to reach the GMC’s CEO, legal team, and lawyers for comment were met with silence, reinforcing the idea that the hearing is merely a formality. The GMC’s refusal to comment only strengthens the belief that the outcome of the hearing has already been decided, and the hearing itself is nothing more than a façade of due process.
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS), which oversees these hearings, is a division of the GMC, creating an obvious conflict of interest. The judges are paid by the GMC, and any complaints made against them are handled internally by the GMC. This lack of independence makes it clear that the hearings are rigged from the beginning.
Sasha Rodoy’s return to the hearing, despite her past misconduct, is a glaring example of the collusion between her and the GMC. In any other situation, her actions would have led to criminal charges, but the GMC has shielded her, allowing her to continue influencing the case.
The GMC’s institutional racism continues to oppress Asian doctors in the UK. Until these doctors unite and demand change, the colonial legacy of the GMC will persist, keeping talented professionals from advancing in their careers.