Callum Gray

ALT Letter to Charlie Massey, GMC chief executive, on the suspension of Dr Sarah Benn. Dated 29th April. Begins: "I am writing on behalf of the British Medical Association UK Council to raise our serious concerns about the recent suspension from the register of Dr Sarah Benn by a medical practitioner tribunal. Like any citizen, we believe doctors should adhere to the law, but many in the profession will find it very difficult to understand that their ability to practise medicine could be suspended because of peaceful actions they take in protest of the climate crisis. Whilst we know the GMC currently has a legal duty to refer doctors to a medical tribunal when they receive a custodial sentence following a criminal conviction, this is not the case where the custodial sentence relates to a civil breach, as it does here, and it’s abundantly clear that the doctor’s actions have no bearing on their ability to practise medicine and will not pose a risk to patients, past or future."

ALT Letter to Charlie Massey continues. Ends: "Dr Benn’s actions and her resulting custodial sentence posed no threat to patients, but her suspension implies they do. We ask that the GMC works with us to review the basis on which Dr Benn found herself in front of a medical tribunal. We recently wrote to you seeking clarification on how the GMC approaches cases where a non-custodial sentence has been imposed, and whether a doctor’s attempt, through protest, to raise awareness of the health emergency posed by the climate crisis would always be considered as a mitigating factor when determining if a non-custodial case should pass your triage stage. We look forward to receiving your response to this letter and now also the important issues set out above. Kindest regards, Professor Phil Banfield."

ALT A screenshot of the letter from BMA chair Phil Banfield to Amanda Pritchard dated 3 January 2024.