Infamous conduct
From Dr John Rowan Wilson Sir: I am sorry to have disappointed Dr Alaister Nimmo (January 6) by my frivolous approach to the sexual habits of doctors.
However, I feel I must point ou: that much of his criticism is based on a misconception. He clearly believes (as many doctors do, I know) that the GMC's powers are confined to cases of adultery. This is not so. " Serious professional misconduct" in relation to sex is not clearly defined. It is entirely up to the discretion of the GMC to decide what kind of sexual activity merits striking the doctor off the Register. I must emphasise that it is not necessarily safe to sleep with unmarried ladies (or gentlemen, for that matter).
The crucial question of when an individual is under a doctor's care is also ill-defined. She doesn't have to take her clothes off and get on a couch. Simply asking for an aspirin or a seasickness tablet may be enough. And in a recent case there was a protracted argument as to whether the lady was technically
on a doctor's list at the time of the alleged offence.
On such matters the GMC acts as judge, jury and prosecutor, without any properly drafted system of law to guide it — which is by any standards an abuse of power. That was the serious point behind my article.
John Rowan Wilson 32 South Eaton Place, London SW!
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