Have GMC ever been approached regarding our plight??

[Flecmac]

Just wondered if anyone knew if GMC have ever been approached regarding lack of knowledge, tests, diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disease? If so I would be interested to know of any response/s. Many thanks.

[holyshedballs]

Not to my knowledge. However, the GMC are aware that there is a responsible body of medical opinion that supports thyroid replacement therapy when hormones are within their reference ranges. This occurred in the Fitness To Practice (FTP) case of Dr Myhill in 2007 following the FTP case of Dr Skinner in 2007.

Field Fisher

Waterhouse Solicitors acting for the GMC asked Tom Kark QC to review the case against Dr Myhill in the light of the evidence given in the Skinner

case. Mr Kark’s conclusion... was that it would be very difficult to establish that no reasonable body of

medical practitioners would behave in the way that Dr Myhill did in relation to the suggestion of using thyroxine (when hormones were within the reference range).

Despite this Counsel's Opinion, the GMC still brought Dr Skinner to a FTP Panel again in 2011. I suspect that they brought him to the FTP because he had conditions on his registration regarding record keeping. That time, they totally exonerated him and congratulated him on his work.

[Flecmac in reply to holyshedballs]

So they agree with Skinner? I saw him in 2010 but my GP would not follow his advice to increase my medication saying I would be at high risk of heart failure, I panicked and trusted her rather than him and my health has deteriorated ever since, I am still trying to find someone who can help me. I have written to PALS, CCG and NICE, to no avail. Is it worth writing to them? I don’t want up waste time with those who don’t listen or help.

Many thanks for your response.

[holyshedballs in reply to Flecmac]

Not Quite

Dr Skinner was brought back again in 2012 for similar accusations and more restrictive conditions were placed on his registration by the GMC. Incredible given the previous hearing and the Counsel's Opinion. Dr Skinner died in 2013, some say because of the stress of the hearings.

in 2012 the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service was set up to adjudicate cases after the GMC had investigated them. A quick search of the website shows that 1 doctor was adjudicated for use of thyroxine but for doping an athlete and there are no results for liothyronine.

[Avidreader in reply to holyshedballs]

I saw a dr skinner years ago in the Birmingham area - he made me totally hyper

[Flecmac in reply to Avidreader]

Oh dear!! Actually the dose he wanted me to be on would I’m sure have made me so too, but the 25mcg my GP left me on was far too low!!!

[Angel_of_the_North]

The GMC is basically a private club for doctors which exists to protect its members against patients and more successful doctors.

[Flecmac in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Oh dear. It says on website the public too, but maybe they won’t listen xx

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Flecmac]

Maybe I'm a cynic, but the GMC is all about protecting its members against anything including whistle blowers - they may say they are protecting the public, but they are really all about enforcing the status quo and protecting their members.

[Hashi-hacker in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

In Scotland, there has been a massive campaign to the Scottish Government regarding how thyroid patients are managed...

parliament.scot/GettingInvo...

I don't know the detailed history, and where it is at exactly, but the suggested actions for how to effectively manage thyroid patients would be life changing for so many.

In a letter on the petitions page, it mentions that the NICE guidelines are being reviewed and will be updated Nov 2019

nice.org.uk/guidance/indeve...

Interesting times!

[Flecmac in reply to Hashi-hacker]

Thanks. Let’s hope our government follows suit!!! Not sure the new guidelines will be perfect, but it’s a start!!