Sun 31 Jan 2010
State medical monopoly drags the standing of doctors to new low: Now, even the GMC is embarrassed by the decision of one of its own panels
Posted by Helen Evans under NHS Reforms
[3] Comments
As this fabulous paper against the medical monopoly makes clear, state monopolies initially set up to protect standards in the name of public interest invariably degenerate into the total and utter reputational shambles that they pretend to oppose.
It is with this in mind that I recently noted this story . You cannot make it up really. If only the Competition Commission would intervene to end the General Medical Council’s monopoly then perhaps things might start to turn around for doctors’ reputations.
For if allowed to chose, consumers would finally be free to decide between different brands, schools and philosophies of doctor. In such a world I would not chose a GMC doctor. Like millions of others, I would go out of my way to avoid members of an organisation that has consistently given the impression it exists to administer clubbable cover-ups for the benefit of its relatively well-healed members.
Come to think of it, why doesn’t the government allow a rival Competition Commission? Oh, no, silly me! That would be far too much like a market. Yes, it is much better to have one monopolist in the name of the ‘public interest’!
Serious point: to truly break state healthcare you have to sweep aside the medical monopoly. In the UK, that means removing the legislation that surrounds protected groups like the GMC. Like all other moral outfits they should stand or fall by their reputation in open, diverse and honorable competition. NFR says, let the people decide.
Er, OK. The BBC story says that -
In a statement after the hearing the GMC criticised the independent panel.
Niall Dickson, GMC chief executive, said: “We are surprised by the decision to apply conditions in this case.
“Our view was the doctor’s name should have been erased from the medical register following the panel’s finding of serious professional misconduct.”
In other words, the GMC doesn’t have a monopoly because this wasn’t their decision… as you say, you can’t make it up, except that you did make it up.
Er, you cannot be a doctor in the UK without being recognised by the GMC I guess is what she is saying. That is true. Fair point. It is a de facto monopoly.
And the fact that the GMC criticizes one of its own panels shows just how crap an organisation it is. It was a GMC panel that made this decision.
Right. That is what the BBC says. That is basically the message that Evans is making. Seems fair enough to me.
you “And the fact that the GMC criticizes one of its own panels shows just how crap an organisation it is.”
Why?
BBC: “the independent panel”
Oh.