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The General Medical Council (GMC) has ended a three-year investigation right into a retired neurologist and Catholic priest with a call to take no additional motion.
Dr Patrick Pullicino, who in 2012 was one of many medical doctors to lift the alarm about abuses within the Liverpool Care Pathway, was investigated after health to practise considerations had been raised by gender and sexuality educational Celia Kitzinger.
She claimed that he had been biased within the medical opinion he gave in a 2021 courtroom case about end-of-life therapy.
The case concerned a middle-aged Polish man named solely as RS who had suffered mind injury from a coronary heart assault, and the query of whether or not vitamin and fluids ought to be eliminated.
It was steered that Pullicino, 74, had allowed his religion to prejudice his opinion and that he “could have intentionally misdiagnosed the affected person within the hope of saving his life”.
Following a closed-door tribunal to find out whether or not his medical apply ought to be suspended, the GMC has determined to not take any motion.
“Dr Pullicino is an skilled Consultant Neurologist, with specialist registration and a licence to practise, and we’ve got no proof to recommend that he lacks competence to evaluate a affected person’s stage of consciousness,” it stated.
The resolution from the GMC continued: “We would not have proof to help an allegation that [his medical opinion] was inaccurate.
“We conclude that there is no such thing as a practical prospect of proving these allegations and they’re concluded with no motion.”
In regards to Dr Pullicino’s beliefs they dominated: “No proof was adduced to help the allegation that Dr Pullicino’s spiritual religion or private beliefs affected his opinion on Patient RS.”
Responding to the choice, Dr Pullicino stated he was “relieved and happy” however stated that the GMC “ought to by no means have allowed an investigation to proceed towards me”.
He stated he had been “clearly focused” due to his spiritual beliefs and his conviction that “medical professionals ought to do all the pieces doable to save lots of one other human’s life”.
“I’m involved that it has taken so lengthy for me to be vindicated and cleared,” he added.
Andrea Williams, chief government of the Christian Legal Centre, which supported him in his case: “The irony shouldn’t escape us that this can be a physician beneath investigation for truly attempting to save lots of a life.”
She continued, “The case highlights the rising stress on medical professionals to not break ranks with their colleagues who had taken a controversial resolution to finish a affected person’s life.
“In delicate end-of-life instances, dissenting medical specialists threat extreme criticism by courts and activists, resulting in protracted and irritating investigations by skilled regulators.”
She added, “We want extra medical doctors and specialists who’re ready to be fearless in defending the affected person’s proper to life.”
