Doctors’ tribunals are in need of urgent reform | Letter

The article expresses concern over the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS), which is responsible for disciplining doctors in the UK. It highlights two key issues: 1. Doctors found guilty of sexual misconduct, including rape and sexual predation, have been allowed to return to medical practice after MPTS hearings. 2. In contrast, doctors who participated in peaceful climate protests have faced prolonged suspensions by the MPTS. The authors argue that this raises questions about the MPTS's independence, processes, and ethical integrity. They identify a fundamental conflict of interest in the MPTS's funding, which comes indirectly from doctors' fees through the General Medical Council. The use of subjective mitigating factors, such as character references and showing remorse, is also seen as potentially advantaging doctors. The article calls for urgent reform of the MPTS to ensure it can effectively protect public health and promote trust in the medical profession.