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What Really Happened to Dr Jennifer Colman Index
Chapter One : The Facts behind the Myth News Update from November 2006 Before we continue the account of what really happened to Dr Jennifer Colman we believe it would be only right to bring the readers up to date with fresh developments. An Ex-Member of the GMC and PCC Chairman speaks out A senior doctor, Dr Andrew Fergusson, who sat on the GMC from 1999 to 2003, during which time he also chaired Professional Conduct Hearings, felt so concerned about the way in which Dr Colman had been treated that he wrote to Lord Walton in November about what Dr Fergusson described as Lord Walton’s grave error in the way in which he had initiated a hearing against Dr Colman and against the advice of the staff at the GMC. The reader is reminded of chapter six which goes into some detail about Lord Walton’s actions. Dr Fergusson has a breadth of experience chairing the Conduct hearings and also later serving regularly on the Preliminary Proceedings Committee, and therefore because of this experience is someone with sufficient knowledge and expertise to be able to give a considered opinion. This is the letter Dr Fergusson wrote to Lord Walton: We believe that Lord Walton has replied although we are not at present in a position to say here what he wrote, save to say that we are reliably informed that he expressed sadness. Dr Colman’s supporters, who seek justice for Dr Colman believe this is only the beginning and Lord Walton must do more and his actions have, as Dr Fergusson has said, fallen uncharacteristically short of those expected from a former leader of the medical establishment. An Investigation is under way The second news update is that Dr Colman and her Member of Parliament have reported certain matters surrounding this whole saga to the Police, who are investigating. Some of these matters are already in the public domain because that is where one of the defendants has chosen to continuously place them from 2000 to the present day. We hasten to add that it is not Lord Walton who is under investigation. The reader will understand that for the time being we may be constrained over what we can write but we will endeavour to keep you informed as far as possible. The Court of Appeal makes an Order The third news update concerns an Order by Lord Justice Rix sitting in the Court of Appeal, who has ordered that there be a re-opening of Dr Colman’s appeal against the striking out of her original claim against the GMC, and that there is an oral hearing before two Lord Justices of Appeal. The GMC had not given a full discovery of documents in spite of a finding against them in 2002 by the Information Commissioner of unfair and unlawful processing of Dr Colman’s data and a further finding by the Commissioner in 2004. At the strike out hearing the GMC’s own counsel stated that the GMC were no longer in breach of the Data Protection Act. This has the consequence of denying justice to Dr Colman but also very importantly the public must be able to have faith in the court. The court cannot make fully informed and fair judgements if the documents are not available to them or to one of the parties. Dr Colman’s supporters congratulate her and wish her well.
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