Southall claims he is a victim of a witchhunt by child abusers
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Southall claims he is a victim of a witchhunt by child abusers
Penny Mellor Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:56 pm
Really. Oh dear.
http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=158315&command=displayContent&sourceNode=158315&contentPK=20449975&folderPk=87654
TOP DOC RESIGNS AND BLAMES 'WITCH-HUNT'
DAVE BLACKHURST
DAVE.BLACKHURST@THESENTINEL.CO.UK
09:40 - 22 April 2008
The Sentinel
Consultant David Southall has left his job at The University Hospital Of North Staffordshire to draw a veil over a 16-year career littered with controversy.
The child health specialist's resignation emerged as he was fighting in The Court Of Appeal in London today to overturn his suspension by the General Medical Council (GMC).
Dr Southall, pictured below, who has been at the centre of national rows for years over his child protection work, claimed he had been a "victim of a witch-hunt by child abusers".
But he paid tribute to parents for their support in his clinics and hospital department since he arrived in 1992.
Dr Southall was struck off the medical register in December by the GMC, which found him guilty of professional misconduct for accusing a grieving mother of murdering her 10-year-old son, and keeping secret files on children.
He was also suspended pending his appeal against the decision later this year - but today's hearing in The Royal Courts Of Justice was into his plea to have the suspension dropped.
Dr Southall said: "I need to get back on the register as soon as possible, because I am currently unable to practice as a doctor for my humanitarian aid work abroad.
"But I have tendered my resignation from June, partly because they have had to employ a locum to cover for me during my suspension and that was helping undermine the work of its children's unit, which I believe is one of the most progressive in the UK."
Along with two other paediatricians at the hospital, Dr Southall also faces another GMC disciplinary hearing into the so-called CNEP breathing tank experiments at the hospital in the 1990s.
Due to start in Manchester next month, the case is scheduled to last at least six weeks and will look into the research which involved placing premature babies into low pressure incubators so they could breathe unaided.
Today Dr Southall, who now lives in Wales, said: "I have been a victim of a disgraceful witch-hunt, but the parents of children I have seen during my time in North Staffordshire have been enormously supportive of me and I thank them.
"I feel proud to have helped set up the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Stoke, and helped turn the department into one of the best in the country.
"Once I have been exonerated of all charges I believe I will have no problem finding work, and at that point I may well consider returning to work in North Staffordshire where I have tried my best to help over the years."
His resignation letter says: "There will always be some doubt over the quality of the medical care that I can give as long as the GMC's findings of serious professional misconduct are in place.
"I am really sorry that it has all ended like this."
Retired paediatrician Dr David Brookfield, a colleague of Dr Southall, said: "He was a good doctor who always did his best to put the interests of children first. He was instrumental in bringing us one of the first children's intensive care units in the region, and without his child protection work many children would have come to harm and even died."
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http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=158315&command=displayContent&sourceNode=158315&contentPK=20449966
'I AM REALLY SORRY IT HAS ALL ENDED LIKE THIS'
The Sentinel
09:40 - 22 April 2008
Dr Southall's resignation letter to hospital clinical director Robert Courtney-Harris and human resource head Margot Johnson.I am writing to tender my resignation as a locum consultant paediatrician. I would like this to take effect from the end of June 2008 when hopefully the next round of GMC hearings comes to an end. As you will know from our discussions, I do not feel that it is in the interests of the parents of acutely ill children attending the hospital and/or the junior medical staff that I supervise, for me to continue to work at this time.
The actions of the GMC over the last 10 years or so will have left the public and some of the nursing and medical staff unsure as to my integrity and ability. In an emergency, it will never be practical for a lengthy explanation to be given about the truth behind the accusations against me and therefore there will always, I think, be some doubt over the quality of the medical care that I can give as long as the GMC's findings of serious professional misconduct are in place. I am really sorry that it has all ended like this. I feel very proud to have been part of one of the most progressive children's units in the country and have always felt greatly supported by most of my colleagues. I know you both understand the complex reasons behind my resignation and I am grateful to you both for helping me to take it forward.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-health-news/2008/04/22/staffordshire-doctor-david-southall-wins-gmc-case-65233-20801294/
HomeNewsHealth News
Staffordshire doctor David Southall wins GMC case
The Birmingham Post, UK
Apr 22 2008
Controversial consultant David Southall has won his legal battle to overturn his immediate suspension from working as a doctor after being struck off the medical register.
High Court judge Mr Justice Stadlen ordered today that the suspension imposed by the General Medical Council's Fitness to Practise Panel last December "be set aside".
The suspension was imposed pending the outcome of an appeal against his striking off later this year. Conditions remain in place that prevent the child specialist from undertaking child protection work.
Today the GMC conceded at London's High Court that the suspension order was fatally flawed and the result of "a misapprehension as to the applicable legal test".
Dr Southall, who now lives in Wales, was found guilty last December of serious professional misconduct. He was found to have abused his position by accusing a grieving mother of murdering her 10-year-old son, and keeping secret files on children.
Dr Southall's actions were said to have added to the distress of the mother - Mandy Morris, from Shropshire - whose son Lee hanged himself in 1996. Dr Southall made the claim in an interview with Mrs Morris about the safety of her surviving son.
He had been instructed by Shropshire County Council to provide an independent expert report for use in court. In 2004 Dr Southall was suspended from child protection work over his role in the case of Sally Clark, wrongly jailed over the death of her two sons.
He accused Mrs Clark's husband Steve of murdering the two boys on the basis of a television interview.
Dr Southall said before today's lifting of his latest suspension: "I need to get back on the register as soon as possible, because I am currently unable to practice as a doctor for my humanitarian aid work abroad."
He confirmed that he was leaving his job at The University Hospital of North Staffordshire. He said: "I have tendered my resignation from June, partly because they have had to employ a locum to cover for me during my suspension and that was helping undermine the work of its children's unit, which I believe is one of the most progressive in the UK."
Along with two other paediatricians at the hospital, Dr Southall also faces another GMC disciplinary hearing into the so-called CNEP breathing tank experiments at the hospital in the 1990s.
Due to start in Manchester next month, the case is scheduled to last at least six weeks and will look into the research which involved placing premature babies into low pressure incubators so they could breathe unaided.
Dr Southall said he had been the victim of "a disgraceful witch-hunt", but the parents of children he had seen during his time in North Staffordshire "have been enormously supportive of me and I thank them".
The GMC said in a statement: "We can confirm that the immediate suspension imposed on Dr David Southall's registration has been lifted by mutual consent.
"The GMC supports the application to lift the immediate suspension, pending the outcome of the appeal against the panel's direction to erase Dr Southall's name from the medical register.
"Dr Southall's registration will be subject to previously imposed conditions which prevent him undertaking any child protection work."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=158315&command=displayContent&sourceNode=158315&contentPK=20449975&folderPk=87654
TOP DOC RESIGNS AND BLAMES 'WITCH-HUNT'
DAVE BLACKHURST
DAVE.BLACKHURST@THESENTINEL.CO.UK
09:40 - 22 April 2008
The Sentinel
Consultant David Southall has left his job at The University Hospital Of North Staffordshire to draw a veil over a 16-year career littered with controversy.
The child health specialist's resignation emerged as he was fighting in The Court Of Appeal in London today to overturn his suspension by the General Medical Council (GMC).
Dr Southall, pictured below, who has been at the centre of national rows for years over his child protection work, claimed he had been a "victim of a witch-hunt by child abusers".
But he paid tribute to parents for their support in his clinics and hospital department since he arrived in 1992.
Dr Southall was struck off the medical register in December by the GMC, which found him guilty of professional misconduct for accusing a grieving mother of murdering her 10-year-old son, and keeping secret files on children.
He was also suspended pending his appeal against the decision later this year - but today's hearing in The Royal Courts Of Justice was into his plea to have the suspension dropped.
Dr Southall said: "I need to get back on the register as soon as possible, because I am currently unable to practice as a doctor for my humanitarian aid work abroad.
"But I have tendered my resignation from June, partly because they have had to employ a locum to cover for me during my suspension and that was helping undermine the work of its children's unit, which I believe is one of the most progressive in the UK."
Along with two other paediatricians at the hospital, Dr Southall also faces another GMC disciplinary hearing into the so-called CNEP breathing tank experiments at the hospital in the 1990s.
Due to start in Manchester next month, the case is scheduled to last at least six weeks and will look into the research which involved placing premature babies into low pressure incubators so they could breathe unaided.
Today Dr Southall, who now lives in Wales, said: "I have been a victim of a disgraceful witch-hunt, but the parents of children I have seen during my time in North Staffordshire have been enormously supportive of me and I thank them.
"I feel proud to have helped set up the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Stoke, and helped turn the department into one of the best in the country.
"Once I have been exonerated of all charges I believe I will have no problem finding work, and at that point I may well consider returning to work in North Staffordshire where I have tried my best to help over the years."
His resignation letter says: "There will always be some doubt over the quality of the medical care that I can give as long as the GMC's findings of serious professional misconduct are in place.
"I am really sorry that it has all ended like this."
Retired paediatrician Dr David Brookfield, a colleague of Dr Southall, said: "He was a good doctor who always did his best to put the interests of children first. He was instrumental in bringing us one of the first children's intensive care units in the region, and without his child protection work many children would have come to harm and even died."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=158315&command=displayContent&sourceNode=158315&contentPK=20449966
'I AM REALLY SORRY IT HAS ALL ENDED LIKE THIS'
The Sentinel
09:40 - 22 April 2008
Dr Southall's resignation letter to hospital clinical director Robert Courtney-Harris and human resource head Margot Johnson.I am writing to tender my resignation as a locum consultant paediatrician. I would like this to take effect from the end of June 2008 when hopefully the next round of GMC hearings comes to an end. As you will know from our discussions, I do not feel that it is in the interests of the parents of acutely ill children attending the hospital and/or the junior medical staff that I supervise, for me to continue to work at this time.
The actions of the GMC over the last 10 years or so will have left the public and some of the nursing and medical staff unsure as to my integrity and ability. In an emergency, it will never be practical for a lengthy explanation to be given about the truth behind the accusations against me and therefore there will always, I think, be some doubt over the quality of the medical care that I can give as long as the GMC's findings of serious professional misconduct are in place. I am really sorry that it has all ended like this. I feel very proud to have been part of one of the most progressive children's units in the country and have always felt greatly supported by most of my colleagues. I know you both understand the complex reasons behind my resignation and I am grateful to you both for helping me to take it forward.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-health-news/2008/04/22/staffordshire-doctor-david-southall-wins-gmc-case-65233-20801294/
HomeNewsHealth News
Staffordshire doctor David Southall wins GMC case
The Birmingham Post, UK
Apr 22 2008
Controversial consultant David Southall has won his legal battle to overturn his immediate suspension from working as a doctor after being struck off the medical register.
High Court judge Mr Justice Stadlen ordered today that the suspension imposed by the General Medical Council's Fitness to Practise Panel last December "be set aside".
The suspension was imposed pending the outcome of an appeal against his striking off later this year. Conditions remain in place that prevent the child specialist from undertaking child protection work.
Today the GMC conceded at London's High Court that the suspension order was fatally flawed and the result of "a misapprehension as to the applicable legal test".
Dr Southall, who now lives in Wales, was found guilty last December of serious professional misconduct. He was found to have abused his position by accusing a grieving mother of murdering her 10-year-old son, and keeping secret files on children.
Dr Southall's actions were said to have added to the distress of the mother - Mandy Morris, from Shropshire - whose son Lee hanged himself in 1996. Dr Southall made the claim in an interview with Mrs Morris about the safety of her surviving son.
He had been instructed by Shropshire County Council to provide an independent expert report for use in court. In 2004 Dr Southall was suspended from child protection work over his role in the case of Sally Clark, wrongly jailed over the death of her two sons.
He accused Mrs Clark's husband Steve of murdering the two boys on the basis of a television interview.
Dr Southall said before today's lifting of his latest suspension: "I need to get back on the register as soon as possible, because I am currently unable to practice as a doctor for my humanitarian aid work abroad."
He confirmed that he was leaving his job at The University Hospital of North Staffordshire. He said: "I have tendered my resignation from June, partly because they have had to employ a locum to cover for me during my suspension and that was helping undermine the work of its children's unit, which I believe is one of the most progressive in the UK."
Along with two other paediatricians at the hospital, Dr Southall also faces another GMC disciplinary hearing into the so-called CNEP breathing tank experiments at the hospital in the 1990s.
Due to start in Manchester next month, the case is scheduled to last at least six weeks and will look into the research which involved placing premature babies into low pressure incubators so they could breathe unaided.
Dr Southall said he had been the victim of "a disgraceful witch-hunt", but the parents of children he had seen during his time in North Staffordshire "have been enormously supportive of me and I thank them".
The GMC said in a statement: "We can confirm that the immediate suspension imposed on Dr David Southall's registration has been lifted by mutual consent.
"The GMC supports the application to lift the immediate suspension, pending the outcome of the appeal against the panel's direction to erase Dr Southall's name from the medical register.
"Dr Southall's registration will be subject to previously imposed conditions which prevent him undertaking any child protection work."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Penny Mellor- Posts : 57
Join date : 2008-04-11
Age : 62
Location : Staffordshire UK -
Re: Southall claims he is a victim of a witchhunt by child abusers
Cybertiger Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:36 pm
Lock up your babies ... they've let the witch doctor out on to the streets of Wales ... and England ... 
Cybertiger- Posts : 18
Join date : 2008-04-12
Age : 67
Location : Bedfordshire
Re: Southall claims he is a victim of a witchhunt by child abusers
fassitsangel Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:42 pm
But he's not allowed to work with child protection so that's gotta be a good thing but I guess it doesn't stop him from making "referrals"
Arse!
Arse!
fassitsangel- Posts : 8
Join date : 2008-04-20
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