Dr Skinner -The Birmingham Mail and the Grossly Inaccurate GMC report

[Guest guest]

Dear Member

For all those of you who care about Dr Skinner and the future of correctly diagnosing hypothyroidism and treating this condition using a choice of thyroid hormone replacement, I beg you to either telephone, or write to The Editor of the Birmingham Mail asking him to correct the disgracefully inaccurate article published by Alison Diyani, who claims to be one of their journalists. The article she entitled erroneously 'Reckless' Moseley doctor has conditions lifted on his medical license. You can read the whole of this article, which was published yesterday here http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories//tm_headline=reckless-moseley-doctor-has-conditions-lifted-on-his-medical-licence%26method=full%26objectid=29817596%26siteid=97319-name_page.html#ixzz1eYi7QveO

However, if you do write to the Birmingham Mail editor, you should also write to the Editors' Code of Practice - Press Complaints Commission, Halton House, 20/23 Holborn, London EC1N 2JD

http://www.pcc.org.uk/assets/111/Code_of_Practice_2011_A4.pdf" and ask for a full public apology to be made.

Afshan, Jim, Judy and others have made the following comments/statements which might help you to understand just how badly Alison Diyani has let down Dr Skinner, the tens of thousands of patients being left to suffer, the thousands of doctors who know the present diagnosing and treatment protocol for those with symptoms of hypothyroidism is so wrong – and not forgetting yourself of course. Diyani shows a complete lack of ability to understand the complex subject she was sent to cover.

Here, I am listing just some of her factual inaccuracies, so far:-

1. "Reckless" Moseley doctor - The quotes don't excuse the fact that it was his prescribing (to two patients, not four?) that was adjudged to be reckless, not Dr. Skinner. The Panel conceded that Dr Skinner had been shown to be an excellent doctor.

2. "...allowed back to work" - Absolute nonsense, a very serious error (he attended to 662 patients!)

3. After more then five (sic) year of restrictions - This was three years, which were extended by three months due to GMC not having an expert witness – after the chosen expert witness had shown his judgement of Dr Skinner was biased.

4. GMC keeping tight checks on his patient every six months - Although obligated to monitor his patient care every six months. the GMC failed to even look at any of the documents. The GMC failed to ensure patient safety.

5. Akintewe ... prescribing ... to patients who had no clinical need for it. – Dr Akintewe, Retired Diabetologist and the GMC `Expert Witness' did not see any patient records or examine one single patient and hence was unaware of their clinical needs.

6. `But the panel decided that Dr Skinner was still fit to practise without any restrictions' - Implies that the panel is making a wrong decision, the word "but" is misleading.

7. 2000 testimonials from patients, G.Ps, Endocrinologists and other professionals were submitted in support of this excellent doctor who has significantly improved and brought his patients back to full health. In 40 years of practise not one patient has been harmed, on the contrary, his record for returning patients to optimal health in his chosen field of specialism is exemplary.

8. The panel accepted the prescription of Thyroid Hormone Replacement, to patients whose blood results were within the accepted reference interval for the UK, but showed clear signs and symptoms of underactive Thyroid, was legitimate and all patients recovered

9. The panel also accepted there was no problem for any Dr in prescribing unlicensed Natural Dessicated (Armor) Thyroid to patients who were clearly hypothyroid but had failed to respond to synthetic drugs

10. The screening (TSH) blood test in the UK has a wider reference interval for what is considered "normal" than in the USA, Sweden, Australia and the EU. Therefore, due to over-reliance on blood tests, many extremely ill people are being told by their GPs "there is nothing wrong with you". Dr Skinner, however, (as a good Dr should) looks at history, signs, symptoms and blood test results before making a diagnosis. Many Endocrinologists, (including the expert witness for the GMC) refuse to treat severely ill patients with `normal' blood tests due to fear of litigation. This scandalous disregard for patients' welfare is causing them real harm and goes contrary to the Hippocratic oath

11. The use of the word "unorthodox" for Dr Skinner's treatment is incorrect. Before blood tests were invented, `hypothyroidism' was always treated on clinical signs and symptoms alone. Now, many GPs and Endos diagnose on blood test results alone. Patients are, in fact, being diagnosed by Lab Technicians and told their results are "normal" and that no action required. It is a sad fact that Hypothyroid patients were better diagnosed and treated at the end of World War 2 than they are today!

12. Dr Skinner demonstated "an encyclopaedic knowledge"of his specialist subject, cited research and reference to over 120 publications to support his practise. Sadly, the expert witness admitted that he worked to guidelines and knowledge gleaned from GOOGLE! Hmm!

Here is just one of the testimonials of the 2000 that were sent to the GMC in support of Dr Skinner.

"My life was devastated for four years by an incurable illness, diagnosed as CFS/ME, which deprived me of everything in my world that was dear to me. At my lowest points, I was wracked with pain, housebound, almost bedridden and unable to carry out the most mundane of tasks. My life was joyless, meaningless and empty. Previously an optimistic, enthusiastic and well-balanced human being, I became severely depressed and on three occasions seriously considered suicide as the only way out of a life that seemed like never-ending torture.

When Dr Gordon Skinner diagnosed me as hypothyroid and started me on medication, he literally saved my life. He is a consummate professional with an amazing depth of understanding, knowledge and experience in his chosen field of specialism. His practical application of this knowledge in clinical observation, diagnosis and treatment is outstanding and, sad to say, in my experience of consultants, very rare. On a personal level with his patients he is warm, patient, understanding and compassionate. He really cares about people and you can tell that his whole world revolves around his desire to restore people to optimal health. He is also a courageous man who stands up for what he believes in and will challenge and overcome all obstacles that stand in the way of his patients regaining their health. He has my greatest admiration and undying gratitude for having the courage of his convictions and helping so many people back to health."

Even the Barrister acting for the GMC, in his `summing up' recognised the great work that Dr Skinner has been involved in, and stated that "Maybe in years to come his views may bring a change of culture."

Please, please, do not allow the Birmingham Mail to get away with what they have published, we proved PATIENT POWER has helped Dr Skinner; even the Panel Chairman recognised this, so let us continue with our PATIENT POWER and stop such inaccurate information from being spread by those who don't know, and often refuse to listen, to our story. This cannot be done unless each one of us makes our voice heard. Please write to the Editor david_brookes@... without delay.

I do know that I telephoned the Birmingham Mail this afternoon, asking to either speak to Alison Diyani, or s, and could not get through to either of them as their telephone lines were too busy. This is good.

Luv - Sheila