Dr Iain Kerr
With regard to the news of Dr. Iain Kerr’s censure by the Fitness to Practise panel of the GMC, it is sad to witness an obviously well respected and compassionate GP being dragged in front of the panel to justify his actions towards an eighty seven year old patient, who plainly knew her own mind and wished to end her life.
What exactly was Dr. Kerr found guilty of?
The panel accepted
1) He was NOT irresponsible for telling colleagues he’d prescribed sleeping pills to patients to help them end their lives.
2) He had NOT prescribed sleeping pills to patient A after she told him he was unhappy with her quality of life.
3) He had NOT failed to take adequate measure to dissuade her from suicide — indeed the GMC panel admitted patient A was “determined to end her own life” and she has been quoted as saying that Dr. Kerr was a “great doctor”.
So for the GMC Fitness to Practise panel to describe Dr. Kerr’s actions as “inappropriate and irresponsible…and not in the patient’s best interest” seems curious at the very least.
FATE campaigns for a change in the law to allow physician assisted suicide FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO END THEIR OWN LIVES WITH DIGNITY … a measure that the majority of people in the UK support whenever they are asked.
Perhaps it’s the GMC whose attitude is inappropriate and not in the patients’ best interests.
Sheila Duffy 3 Hamilton Drive GLASGOW G12 8DN
FATE council member
Phone 0141 337 1588 07932 721 716
e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
More details about the organisation and its aims can be seen on our website www.friends-at-the-end.org.uk
What exactly was Dr. Kerr found guilty of?
The panel accepted
1) He was NOT irresponsible for telling colleagues he’d prescribed sleeping pills to patients to help them end their lives.
2) He had NOT prescribed sleeping pills to patient A after she told him he was unhappy with her quality of life.
3) He had NOT failed to take adequate measure to dissuade her from suicide — indeed the GMC panel admitted patient A was “determined to end her own life” and she has been quoted as saying that Dr. Kerr was a “great doctor”.
So for the GMC Fitness to Practise panel to describe Dr. Kerr’s actions as “inappropriate and irresponsible…and not in the patient’s best interest” seems curious at the very least.
FATE campaigns for a change in the law to allow physician assisted suicide FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO END THEIR OWN LIVES WITH DIGNITY … a measure that the majority of people in the UK support whenever they are asked.
Perhaps it’s the GMC whose attitude is inappropriate and not in the patients’ best interests.
Sheila Duffy 3 Hamilton Drive GLASGOW G12 8DN
FATE council member
Phone 0141 337 1588 07932 721 716
e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
More details about the organisation and its aims can be seen on our website www.friends-at-the-end.org.uk