The troglodytes at the British General Medical Council (GMC) are at it again, trying to destroy yet another doctor who cares about patients and is willing to tackle difficult cases of chronic fatigue syndrome and hormonal imbalances, including thyroid issues. You can read more about the unfounded GMC attack on Dr. Sarah Myhill at her website, which outlines the various GMC actions. Also, the news website WalesOnline has an April 15, 2010 article, titled: Doctor faces suspension over website complaint that explains the situation clearly.
But basically, to summarize: the GMC has decided that Dr. Myhill is "a potential risk to public safety" and should lose her license to practice medicine. And what is this serious accusation based on? It's based on the vague complaints of a small group of doctors who compete with Dr. Myhill, and one typo-filled anonymous letter complaining about her website. That's right, the GMC has not received even a single complaint from patients! In fact, they have received hundreds of emails, letters, faxes and phone calls from Dr. Myhill's satisfied patients, in support of her work!
So what's really going on? I have watched as the GMC has attacked popular thyroid doctors Dr. Barry Durrant Peatfield, and Dr. Gordon Skinner, among others -- doctors who came increasingly under attack by other doctors, even as their popularity and reputation among patients grew. It seems that the GMC frequently focuses its concerns on popular doctors who have an integrative diagnostic/treatment approach, and who handle difficult-to-treat cases of thyroid disease, chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalitis (ME), fibromyalgia, hormone balances, and similar health issues. These are health challenges that are not easily diagnosed and treated within the narrowly prescribed -- and some would say, outdated and self-serving -- diagnostic and treatment protocols of the National Health Service (NHS) guidelines.
It is precisely because doctors like Sarah Myhill use successful approaches that are not part of the narrowly prescribed dogma that they are successful -- but it seems that to the GMC, results and healthy, satisfied patients are less important than conformity.
So the GMC's decision to pursue a case against Dr. Myhill raises a key question: who is the GMC actually trying to protect?
That is clear. The doctors on the GMC want to put her out of business. She is not part of the NHS, and she takes an integrative, holistic approach to treatment -- which is an anathema to the old school NHS doctors. The GMC members are selfishly protecting themselves -- their financial interests and their "status-quo treatment is best" egos -- rather than protecting the health and safety of patients.
Dr. Myhill's patients, in fact, are likely to suffer as a result of any decision by the GMC to take away her medical license.
As for the anonymous complaint letter about the website -- it is truly appalling that a non-specific complaint filed anonymously by a non-patient is considered actionable, legitimate evidence. If this is the precedent the GMC is going to set, then I would anticipate that every time anyone has a petty gripe or concern with any doctor in the UK, the GMC can expect bags and email inboxes full of anonymous complaint letters. Unscrupulous doctors could even use it as a competitive technique to sabotage their colleagues.
Seriously, the GMC actually believes that an anonymous letter is the standard of "evidence" upon which to launch and conduct costly investigations, much less remove a doctor from practice, and prevent patients from seeing a doctor they support.
Some people, including here in the US, consider the UK to have a medical system that can serve as a model for other nations. But as a patient advocate, I have to say that it is impossible to take the UK's medical system seriously when the GMC regularly seems to be making decisions that are ego-driven and self-protective -- and reflect a clear ignorance of integrative medicine and standards of care -- rather than decisions that are truly in the best interests of actual patients.
And here's my personal note to the grand poobahs at the GMC: As the old saying goes, the horse is already out of the barn. When it comes to diseases like chronic fatigue syndrome/ME, fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism, patients are NOT going back to the old way of doing medicine, no matter how many doctors the GMC tries to remove from practice. Patients in the UK and around the world are aware of what the GMC -- and similar groups of doctors in other countries -- are trying to do, and the unethical motivations behind it. Integrative medicine is here to stay, and for every doctor the GMC tries to silence, more will take her or his place. And for every patient who sees his or her doctor victimized by a GMC witchhunt, there are friends, family and coworkers who will also join the struggle, and question and challenge the system.
TAKE ACTION NOW! The GMC Witchhunt Against Dr. Sarah Myhill Must Stop!
Whether you are in the US, UK, or anywhere else, these effort by narrow-minded, self-interested doctors have to stop. It's time to take action, now. (And remember, if you're in the U.S., the same thing is happening here as well. There are greedy groups of narrow-minded doctors who have ganged up on those doctors who don't adhere to rigid, outdated, ineffective thyroid treatment guidelines. And they have sometimes been successful in putting these doctors out of business!)
Here are ways you can help make a difference!
- Join the Support Dr. Sarah Myhill Facebook page which has amassed more than 700 members in just a few days. Just becoming a fan of the page sends a message to the GMC that patients will not stand for this sort of contempt and abuse any longer.
- Sign the Petition, calling for the GMC to Stop the Witch Hunt of Dr. Sarah Myhill
- Please write to the GMC, in support of Dr. Sarah Myhill, quoting Case Reference: PB/C1-314994282. You can
- Email the GMC's Paul Bridge, at pbridge@gmc-uk.org
- Write to Mr Paul Bridge, General Medical Council, 3 Hardman St, Manchester M3 3AW United Kingdom
- Send a fax to Mr. Adam Elliott: 0207 189 5177
- Phone the GMC's Paul Bridge on 0161 923 6417.
- Witch-Hunt in the United Kingdom -- The General Medical Council vs. the UK's Most Popular Thyroid Doctor
- Rough Justice in the United Kingdom: GMC Suspends Dr. Barry Durrant-Peatfield
- The UK's Effort to Put a Popular Thyroid Doctor Out of Business Fails
- British Medical Website: Thyroid Patients Are "Fat, Mad, Middle Aged, Menopausal Women" and "Goiter Girls"
- Leading British Endocrinologist Tony Weetman Says Patients With Normal Thyroid But Thyroid Sympmtoms May Have Mental Illness
- Thyroid Shakeup in the United Kingdom: British Guidelines Severely Limit Hypothyroidism Diagnosis and Treatment Options
Photos: Dr. Sarah Myhill, clipart.com
I am from the US, and would like to comment to the GMC to help her but I’m not exactly sure how to word it in a way that would be beneficial. It makes me angry, and I could spout off at the ignorance, but it seems that this would not help the case.
loved this blog…loved the passion…love your commitment to patients, mary shomon…and hate the heck out of what they are trying to do to this good doctor…she sounds so much like my own good integrative doctor…it’s frightening how “they” don’t like folks to live well…
Mary
Thanks so much for bringing Dr Myhill’s plight to the public’s attention.
This is just another example of the backwards approach of the medical profession in the UK.
We patients are tired of being subjected to the results of these abuses of power by medical bodies such as the GMC and the RCP and BTA.
I hope as many people as possible from all over the world will write to the GMC to register their disgust at this latest action.
A Henry,
They will help you compose a letter, it seems. Look at the April 11th update at this link: http://www.drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Category:My_GMC_Hearing#Details_of_the_charges_I_face
Unbelievable……they’re going back to the dark ages. Who runs the GMC a descendant of Henry VIII??
Quite honestly, I simply cannot believe this is transpiring in the UK- in 2010! What has this exceptionally dedicated physician/researcher actually done wrong? Perhaps the ‘crime’ has been to hurt fellow physician’s pride because she is successful with her interventions and does not pass off her chronic fatigue patients as being ‘depressed’? Does she succeed in fulfilling her patient’s treatment expectations (thoroughly) when it comes to attending to their thyroid management? Have her patients even complained one time or suffered any negative consequences from their association with this doctor?
I recently attempted to read one of Dr. Sarah Myhill’s co-authored research papers on CFS/ME, (I believe), on pub-med. It dealt with the theory and actual study of mitochondrial dysfunction, multiple deficiencies at the cellular level, etc. and was quite intense. Her dedication is apparent. I cannot imagine how distressing this continued, unfounded harrassment must be for this fine doctor as well as for the many patients she serves.
I am well aware of the sorry state of affairs that some (perhaps, much?) of the medical community in the EU finds itself in–the physicians there are terrified of being ’struck’ if they treat their patients as they want to, or speak up publicly…let alone sign a petition, aren’t they? ~The physicians and healthcare workers of the United States had better step up! And, please, what on earth is it about all manner of hormones that is so controversial?
Overall, this smacks of professional jealousy to me. It is an outrage to the medical profession as a whole and a disgraceful spectacle by the ‘bodies’ that oversee professionals. Janet Masleid R.N. Chicago, IL. U.S.A.
If you want to support Dr Myhill and further the cause of good thyroid treatment, then please sign the petition.
The more signatures the better, especially from people overseas. International comment highlights just how ignorant the British medical profession look to the international community.
Hopefully we can shame the GMC into doing the right thing.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/witchhuntofdrsarahmyhill/
My TSH is 1.75, apparently in the “ideal” range but my thyroid antibodies are very high. The past year I have had horribly achy joints, fatigue, low mood and a weight gain of 20 pounds, the last seven pounds in the past month. My endocronologist won’t treat me until my TSH is in a “clinical level” despite my symptoms. He said that if he gave me synthroid it could cause congestive heart failure. I have gone gluten free, am taking vitamin D and Thyrosol but no relief. Any suggestions?
Thanks for highlighting this case. How this women continues to be a doctor is beyond me, the sooner she gets struck off the better. The claims on her website are so absurd it beggars belief but, more worryingly than that, they could cause severe harm to anyone reading the information, as it’s mixed in with some facts that are at least partly true.
Being a doctor is not about a popularity contest, so the fact that her patients like her is a good thing but not something that the GMC should pay attention if she’s publicising harmful information.
The quicker she’s struck off the better. But for the sake of public safety her website should be taken down immediately.
Adam Richards
Would you care to provide some evidence for your claims or do you just go around making spurious accusations? What exactly is harmful about the information on her website, given that everything she publishes is based on scientific studies.
Patients don’t pay their hard-earned cash for treatments they find ineffective when they can get healthcare for free from the NHS. If Dr Myhill’s patients weren’t benefiting from her treatments, then why would they continue to go back to her?
Our pal Adam is posting from a uk.gov email address, so I think it’s probably safe to assume it’s the nom de plume of one of the self-serving fellows from the GMC kangaroo council that’s trying to get rid of Dr. Myhill. Maybe they even wrote that complaint letter about the website themselves, but stuck in some typos thinking they’d disguise themselves that way!? Geesh.
@Adam Richard
Perhaps her popularity stems from the fact that she gets positive results for her patients.
Perhaps they seem unorthodox to some who are stuck in ideas they learned in medical school decades ago.
Perhaps other docs would do well to learn more about what she is doing that is producing such positive results.
I guess we could use this as a primer for what we can look forward to. Universal health care for everyone — as long as you comply with the government’s view of health care.
This mess is coming our way.
All those in favor of the government running anything — this is the end results.
How could something like this happen? Let the government make your health care choices and that’s what you get.
Hmm…what beggars “Adam’s” beliefs I wonder…care to expound on that, COMMON GUY?
Oh..and I agree..you’re so right..it shouldn’t be about popularity..well put. Good patient outcomes is proof of the pudding.
Sincerely, J. Masleid R.N. Chicago, IL, USA
Adam’s job title appears to be Policy Advisor for the UK Gov’t. Lord help that country. Thank god I no longer live there.
Hi all,
My apologies, that wasn’t a very constructive contribution to a debate that commenters here, and the author, clearly feel very passionate about.
On the points you make, it’s clearly complex and pre-judging the case before the evidence and defence has been provided was not fair. As I (quite badly, admittedly) acknowledged, on an individual level, her patients clearly feel that they benefit and do keep coming back to her. It’s interesting to look at why that is, for sure, but it could be the placebo effect? Or some people could naturally be getting better?
To put your minds at ease (hopefully!) I don’t have links to the GMC or even any health-related body. Their address is .gmc-uk.org, which I guess would show up if people posted from there. (I don’t even think that the GMC is an official government body?) In fact, checking their website it’s down as being legally established by the Medical Act of 1858 but it’s an independent organisation, governed by a council of 12 doctors and 12 lay members.
I should probably say that my interest in this discussion is not related to work and comes from someone who has an interest in popular science and the growing popularity of alternative therapies. There’s been a lot of discussion in the UK recently about homeopathy, which has piqued my interest in the subject matter.
I’m trying to find the details of the specific complaints made against her website, as discussing those would be a more useful way to debate. Has she published them anywhere?
Cheers,
Adam
Adam,
I am lucky enough to be a patient of Dr Myhill, she has helped me where conventional treatment through the NHS failed.
Perhaps you’d like to take a look at some background information relating to the GMC’s previous attemts to remove her licence?
Shocking!
http://www.theoneclickgroup.co.uk/documents/ME-CFS_docs/Dr%20Sarah%20Myhill,%20Letter%20to%20Patients%20-%20GMC%207%20Nov%202007.doc
http://thyroid-disease.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=115&Itemid=88
Adam:
I am a medical doctor/researcher that have my thyroid condition under control…control that I personally obtained…after taking personal charge of my treatment away from the supposed Endocrinologist specialist…..also, cured myself of psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis….and I did it, because I used natural medicine…..that convinced me that conventional medicine is nothing but a fraud, a genocide practice…..that the sooner we awaken to that fact, we may save our love ones of harm way……we need more physicians like Dr. Myhill…..who truly practice healing medicine, and not genocidal medicine like the one that we are exposed to by the organized criminal enterprise that is todays conventional medicine.
Change is happening around the world thanks to the internet, cable TV and Satellite Communications….I guess God finally listened to our prayers.
Let’s fight for Dr Myhill, write to the corrupted medical authorities and let them know them, that she is not alone in her fight that is our fight too…..let’s fight corruption and ignorance…..What a shame that the great UK IS SO BACKWARDS……
Regards,
Andres
Dear Adam,
My sincere apologies for sounding harsh. You must understand that this is a trying time in the States right now.
With the passing of the Healthcare Reform Bill, the American internet is simply teeming with furious bickering, ad hominem attacks, and tiresome trolls from opposing parties and I am *weary* of it. Especially when it ‘appeared’ that an uninformed, biased, possible maliciously motivated attack against very current medical fact and scientific reasoning was occurring.
I have been an ardent (personal) health researcher myself…for many long months..connecting together and crossreferencing many lines of reasoning. (Books as well as internet). After all of that studying, I was amazed to find all of it contained in one area..right on Dr. Myhill’s page. I am quite aware of the *passionate debunking* that occurs as well. There’s just NO snakeoil there!
I am also quite aware of ‘good old boy’ systems, old fashioned character assassination, and plain out corruption by medical boards and administrations of all kinds when I see it…don’t think we are idiots, sir.
Perhaps following the links that Mary Shomon, leading thyroid advocate and author, has provided, can guide you to Dr. Myhill’s facebook site. A geneticist is posting there on Dr. Myhill’s behalf. I’m sure she can offer you quick answers. But the site is not for debate purposes.
By the way, I am not familiar with homeopathy. Perhaps it is related to pollen desensitization or LDN. Don’t know. Those are worth delving into I believe.
I also do not make tinfoil hats to wear. But if you don’t have a profoundly serious disease process like CFS/ME or under treated hypothyroidism destroying your life..then perhaps a jolly good placebo effect would be the ticket!
I must take my leave. I need to bring this disgusting issue to the attention of another forum.
~To your good health from America.
Regards, Jan
Adam,
If it were the placebo effect, why wasn’t it occurring when Dr. Myhill’s patients were under the care of other doctors?
She is having successes with her approach that should be studied and emulated.
The GMC and the Brown government have been very clever in buying off our doctors so that if they step out of line they risk losing a grossly over paid job and not being able to work for another organisation – the GMC and NHS are effectively monopolies. Remember that Pharmaceutical companies receive huge profits from the NHS for the antidepressants, pain killers, mind altering drugs etc etc given to CFS/ME and others who are classed as depressed or lazy or ……….. and no doubt have representative on the GMC and in senior posts in the NHS.
In 2005 I explained to my then GP (England) that I had Hypothyroidism and Adrenal Exhaustion. His response to the Adrenal Exhaustion was, and I quote “Until you mentioned it this morning I have never heard of it and you don’t have it any way”.
I have now been diagnosed and have evidence from private tests that I have hypothyroidism and either have or on the point of Addison’s. The NHS still will not acknowledge or treat me.
Does anyone think that the GMC would dismiss my GP of 2005 for arrogance and gross negligence?
I feel for Dr Myhill and support her whole heartedly and I will certainly be supporting her.
I would imagine that we could easily start leaving prolific and vociferous website complaints about other doctors of the GMC, particularly those who are most threatened by doctors like Sarah Myhill and working to undermine her ability to see/treat patients…
Dr Myhill is being hounded as she is percieved to be Rocking the Boat,
Some of her colleagues for selfish reasons wish to feed her to the sharks. If the GMS had any integrity they should investigate the complaintants BUT that will never happen as it would show up the cesspool in which the GMS operates.
Mary thank you so much for bringing this to the net I have signed the petition.
That bad science forum is what it is bad science and full of quackery’s puts me in mind of another place where the doctors were so rude on there. I think they should be looking at places like that rather than all the good work that Sarah Mayhill does for her patients.
Why hound and witch hunt is it because the NHS/GMC just aren’t getting it right with patients and is shows there inadequecies. If I lived nearer I would be booking to see her myself becaause the NHS docs sure as hell aren’t helping me (thyroid Patient).
I too am appauled that the GMC feels it necessary to investigate someone who is doing so much good.
After 6 years living without a thyroid have given up trying to get somone in the medical profession to listen and have started to self medicate. In 3 weeks I have turned my life around, I wish I had done it sooner. If there were more doctors like Dr Myhill I (and so many) wouldn’t be placed in the situtation where I felt compelled to take charge.
I am doing it naturally and can only say to those who are struggling with GP or specialists who don’t listen or who pooh pooh your symptons to do your research and take charge. Unfortunelty we can’t all have access to Dr Myhill;-(
I lost my beloved 1st wife because of the MEDICAL MAFIA Unfurtunately THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION IS THE MOST POWERFUL ASSOCIATION ON EARTH!!!
They are not on the oath of IPPOCRATES but most of them they are ………………………..IPPOCRITES!!!
I know this happening to good Doctors here in the United States also! I had a wonderful Doctor that treated me with natural thyroid meds and also with Homeopathic meds (for a different problem) as well. The Medical Board in Nevada told her that she had a choice to make….be a “Medical Doctor” or be a “Homeopathic Doctor”, but she was not allowed to do both. She fought them with every penny that she had and eventually lost, losing her license to practice, her income and then had to file bankruptcy. This was the only Doctor that was able to helped me, not only with my thyroid problem but was able to diagnose and cure my Candida over growth problem, and got my body back to being as healthy as possible. AND NOW THE MEDICAL BOARD HAS TAKEN MY DOCTOR AWAY FROM ME AND ALL THE OTHER PATIENTS, THAT SHE HAS HELPED!
I’m glad to have been alerted to this disgraceful attack. I joined the Face Book appeal, signed the petition, and wrote a letter of complaint to the GMC. I hope everyone else who reads about Dr Myhill’s predicament does the same. The issue at stake is the freedom of doctors and their patients to act on their own best judgement, and the freedom of individuals to take responsibility for their own health. Britain’s GMC is the enemy of health and individual rights; Britain’s National Health Service, despite the best efforts of some of its employees, is destroying the nation’s health.
Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention. I live in the UK and have had my Thyroid condition for over 30 years. If only I had discovered doctors like Sarah Myhill, I am sure I would have been in better health today if I had.
We in the UK are “short changed” by our so called NHS, not just for Thyroid treatment, but all chronic diseases. We need to promote doctors like Sarah Myhill, and until they do, all us British citizens will get inadequate medical health treatment.
I have signed the petition, joined the Facebook appeal and I hope everybody else does too. We need to make the NHS/GMC stand up and take notice and and agree to stop this once and for all.
I am appalled to read this. I have signed the petition and joined the Facebook appeal group.
I live in the UK and have had my Thyroid condition for over 30 years and I feel that I would have been in much better health had I been treated by Dr Sarah Myhill and doctors like her in those days, as I am only allowed to be treated with Levothyroxine even though I know its inadequate for me.
It appals me how the NHS and the GMC can do this to a wonderful caring doctor just because they don’t agree with her methods of treatment. Our government has a lot of answer for and I hope that from all our appeals and petitions and comments that the GNC will see sense and dismiss this case as well they should. They should be praising Dr Sarah Myhill, not opposing her and encouraging her to continue with methods of treatment.
We British citizens are very much being ’short changed’ by our NHS and our government when it comes to our health.
I only wished I lived nearer to Dr Sarah Myhill to be able to treated by her, I am sure I would be in better health today.
Please help challenge our cause sign the petition and join the Facebook page if you are signed up to Facebook.
Dear Miriam,
If it is any comfort to you, please know that leading thyroid advocates/activists from around the globe have become involved in disseminating this story. It is truly not confined to the european continent at this point.
It is multi-faceted and of great interest. We are appalled.
Regards, Janx
Unbelievable but sadly true ! I used to think that doctors (they’ve all taken the Hippocratic oath, right ?) were supposed to listen to their patients and then do their utmost to help them get better …
I have since witnessed the opposite only too frequently I’m afraid. I was lucky enough to find an endo (after switching three times !) who actually does what she swore to do … help her patients.
I have signed the petition and will join the Facebook group asap. This has got to STOP !
Thank you Mary, for sticking up for us !
Cheers,
Carla from Belgium, hypothyroid (Hashimoto’s)
“SUPPORT FOR DR. MYHILL” facebook!!!
I am not a patient of Dr. Myhill. I am a CFS sufferer and a patient of Dr. De Meirleir in Brussels, where I live. I am shocked of how far behind is the UK on the treatment of CFS. In Belgium we can choose if we want C.B.T. or biological treatment of CFS. All my support for Dr. Myhill, for all the Brittish doctors that provide the biological treatment in the UK and to the patients.
Hi Javier,
I was happy to see your comment and was wondering what biological treatments are available (and considered effective) to CFS patients?
Thankyou, Jan