GMC sees rise in doctors charged with accessing child pornography websites
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《英国医生杂志》
London
The UK doctors' regulatory body, the General Medical Council, has been forced to amend its sanctions guidance, in the light of the rapid rise in referrals of doctors who have been charged with accessing child pornography.
Between 1980 and 2002, just one case involving child pornography was referred to the GMC. But in 2003, the council's Professional Conduct Committee heard eight cases, resulting in six suspensions and two doctors being struck off the register.
So far this year, two doctors have been struck off and two suspended.
Although the overall numbers are small, the upwards trend looks set to continue, boosted by the outcome of Operation Ore, the UK police hunt for internet paedophiles.
The operation has so far investigated 6000 suspects. Details of the suspects were passed on by the US Postal Inspection Services, which monitors paedophile activity in the United States.
In the United Kingdom, over 3500 people have been arrested and 1230 convictions made. Some 1300 cases remain to be investigated.
The GMC's Fitness to Practise Committee called for changes to the "indicative sanctions" guidance to ensure a clear and consistent approach to the handling of child pornography cases.
Changes were proposed at last month's council meeting, ahead of the usual consultation with other professional and patient bodies, although their views will be sought before the guidance takes effect in mid-May. But as the meeting's minutes make clear: "We need to act quickly... to ensure that guidance is available... as quickly as possible."
The proposed amendments recognise that when a doctor has been convicted of engaging in child pornography, "it is highly likely the only proportionate sanction will be erasure."
But every case must be considered individually, the GMC says, including whether "any exceptional mitigating factors" might instead warrant a minimum 12 months' suspension.
No examples are provided, but the guidance refers to the Court of Appeal, which in 2002 graded cases from 1 to 5 according to severity—allowing for a fine or conditional discharge for less serious offences.
A conviction automatically leads to inclusion on the sex offenders' register for a minimum of five years. The council stipulates that restricted GMC registration should apply in these cases, with consideration given to forbidding direct contact with patients during this period.
Colin Turner, head of special investigations at the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, said that doctors were too intelligent not to realise that they were helping to perpetuate child abuse by accessing child pornography. These doctors should automatically be subject to independent risk assessment to explore their attitudes to children, he said.
A GMC spokesperson said that the proposed amended guidance did not currently provide for this, and was still out for consultation. The council would welcome suggestions as part of that process.(Caroline White)
The UK doctors' regulatory body, the General Medical Council, has been forced to amend its sanctions guidance, in the light of the rapid rise in referrals of doctors who have been charged with accessing child pornography.
Between 1980 and 2002, just one case involving child pornography was referred to the GMC. But in 2003, the council's Professional Conduct Committee heard eight cases, resulting in six suspensions and two doctors being struck off the register.
So far this year, two doctors have been struck off and two suspended.
Although the overall numbers are small, the upwards trend looks set to continue, boosted by the outcome of Operation Ore, the UK police hunt for internet paedophiles.
The operation has so far investigated 6000 suspects. Details of the suspects were passed on by the US Postal Inspection Services, which monitors paedophile activity in the United States.
In the United Kingdom, over 3500 people have been arrested and 1230 convictions made. Some 1300 cases remain to be investigated.
The GMC's Fitness to Practise Committee called for changes to the "indicative sanctions" guidance to ensure a clear and consistent approach to the handling of child pornography cases.
Changes were proposed at last month's council meeting, ahead of the usual consultation with other professional and patient bodies, although their views will be sought before the guidance takes effect in mid-May. But as the meeting's minutes make clear: "We need to act quickly... to ensure that guidance is available... as quickly as possible."
The proposed amendments recognise that when a doctor has been convicted of engaging in child pornography, "it is highly likely the only proportionate sanction will be erasure."
But every case must be considered individually, the GMC says, including whether "any exceptional mitigating factors" might instead warrant a minimum 12 months' suspension.
No examples are provided, but the guidance refers to the Court of Appeal, which in 2002 graded cases from 1 to 5 according to severity—allowing for a fine or conditional discharge for less serious offences.
A conviction automatically leads to inclusion on the sex offenders' register for a minimum of five years. The council stipulates that restricted GMC registration should apply in these cases, with consideration given to forbidding direct contact with patients during this period.
Colin Turner, head of special investigations at the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, said that doctors were too intelligent not to realise that they were helping to perpetuate child abuse by accessing child pornography. These doctors should automatically be subject to independent risk assessment to explore their attitudes to children, he said.
A GMC spokesperson said that the proposed amended guidance did not currently provide for this, and was still out for consultation. The council would welcome suggestions as part of that process.(Caroline White)