GMC Exposed

Web www.nhsexposed.com

Email to a friend

GMC Settles With Whistleblower

NHS Exposed is delighted to announce that the long-running legal battle in which our founder, Dr Rita Pal, sued the GMC and several of its employees for defamation, breach of the Human Rights Act 1998 and breach of the Data Protection Act 1997, amongst other matters, has been settled out of Court. As long-time readers will recall, the GMC, represented by barrister Ms Jane Collier and solicitors Field Fisher Waterhouse, sought to have the case struck out early last year. As a result of a sterling performance by Mr Robert Jay QC, acting for Dr Pal, the attempt was a spectacular failure during which His Honour Judge Harris likened the GMC to a "Stalinist regime." After her strike-out Application collapsed, Ms Collier, of Blackstone Chambers, Temple, London, advised the Court that her clients were now "eager" to enter into formal mediation as a means of resolving the dispute, and legal proceedings were temporarily suspended pending the outcome of this process.

Never one to litigate without good cause, Dr Pal accepted the invitation and talks were held in London last autumn. Unfortunately, the outcome was unacceptable and it appeared that further hearings were inevitable until her new solicitor, Mr B Sahota, took over the case. With flair and determination he was able to broker a settlement that was acceptable to all parties, thereby avoiding the need for Dr Pal to continue her legal action against the GMC. Although details of the settlement cannot be revealed for legal reasons, Dr Pal is "delighted" that the matter has been brough to an acceptable conclusion.

On behalf of myself and the NHS Exposed team, I should like to congratulate Dr Pal and her supporters, firstly for having the courage to take on the seemingly all-powerful GMC, and secondly for having the necessary skill and determination to achieve a satisfactory outcome. Well done, folks - mine's a pint, if we're celebrating :-)

James - NHS Exposed Webmaster.

Email to a friend

[Home] [NHS Exposed] [Patients] [Health Workers] [NHS in Crisis] [Legal Issues] [Media] [Helpdesk] [Public Views]

All copyright remains with original authors unless otherwise stated.
No material from this site may be copied, reproduced or stored, electronically or otherwise,
without the express written permission of NHS Exposed.
Where material is reproduced from this site without the express written permission of NHS Exposed, NHS Exposed reserves the right to recover a fee of £100 per copy from the individuals and / or organisations concerned. Use of this site, and / or reproduction of material from this site without the written permission of NHS Exposed, will be taken as acceptance of these terms and conditions.
All material is governed by the Copyright, Designs and Patent Act.