DOCTOR DON’T PREACH

Fresh claims are being made in the row over a Christian doctor accused of foisting his religious views on vulnerable patients. Dr Richard Scott was cleared last month of any wrongdoing by the General Medical Council, which ruled that an “anonymous hearsay account” about a single patient was insufficient to prove a breach of guidance. After the result, Dr Scott dismissed the complaint as coming “from someone with an axe to grind”, though he admitted: “I talk to some of my patients about spiritual things because I know it has helped in the past.” After the case, Andrea Williams of the Christian Legal Centre, which supported Dr Scott, said the ruling “gives reassurance to Christian doctors and professionals across the UK that they can share their faith in the workplace”. Now, minutes of a meeting in January have been revealed that show multiple complaints from patients at his Bethesda Medical Centre in Margate, Kent. At that meeting, the practice manager, Rachael Cousins, was asked whether religious representatives could visit patients. The response, according to the minutes, was: “Rachael explained that unfortunately, too many complaints are received from patients saying that they do not want Christianity or any other religion to be pushed upon them when they attend the surgery.” The original complaint against Dr Scott was made by the National Secular Society, which wants the General Medical Council to re-open the case. “The evidence suggests many patients do not welcome religion being imposed on them when they attend doctors’ appointments – this is why the GMC’S ethical guidance prohibits it,” said its chief executive Stephen Evans. “Being an evangelical Christian should not exempt you from the behaviours and standards expected of all doctors working in the UK.” Dr Scott and the medical centre did not respond to a request for a comment. The website of the centre says that most of its doctors are Christian, adding: “Please tell the doctor (or drop a note to the practice manager) if you do not wish to speak on matters of faith.” GMC guidance tells doctors: “You may talk about your own personal beliefs only if a patient asks you directly about them”.

CLEARED Dr Scott