Defamation: Not what the Doctor Ordered

Your reputation is very important to yourself and those around you. I would say it is even more important in your career. To damage your reputation in the mind of right thinking people will lead to all kind of problems. In every profession your reputation is everything, none more so than if your a doctor!

One of the most famous cases in which a doctor was defamed was that of Dr. Rahamim. He was described by channel 4/ITN as a 'Bogus Doctor'. They made the following allegations;

1. First that Mr. Rahamim was probably responsible for the death or serious injury of many of his patients including two who had died during their operations.

2. Secondly that Mr Rahamim was not competent to practice as a consultant thoracic surgeon and that he was seriously under qualified and inadequately trained.

3. Thirdly that he had fraudulently obtained his post as a Consultant by misrepresenting his qualifications and employment history.

4. Fourthly that Mr. Rahamim had dishonestly sent out letters to local GP’s in which he had falsely described himself as an FRCS.

5. Fifthly that he had dishonestly concealed from his employers the fact that as a result of injuries sustained in a road accident he was unable to operate safely.

6. Lastly that by reason of these matters the GMC ought to have Mr. Rahamim struck off.

These were serious allegations which led to multiple investigations into the work of Dr. Rahamim.

After finding no real evidence of any of the above being true, Dr. Rahmim sued in excess of £175,000.

The full statement in open court can be read here.

Whilst on the topics of Doctors and suing I have come across a couple more examples. It would seem its not always the press that we sue as I found out in this next case. in 1991 GP Dr. Smith was awarded £50,000 after a slanderous allegation made by fellow college Dr. Houston saying that Dr.Smith had groped both her and other female colleges.

So it would seem we have to be careful what we say in this world. Turns out a defame a day wont keep the doctor away!