UK General Medicine Council has reopened a case against a Christian doctor, Richard Scott, who was accused of violating professional conduct by praying with patients, Christian Post is reporting.
Dr Scott of the Bethesda Medical Centre in Margate, Kent risks losing his licence if found guilty.
A case had been filed against him in 2019 by the National Secular Society, a British advocacy group promoting strict interpretation of separation of church and state.
According to the Society, Dr Scott made a patient uncomfortable by praying, prompting the friend of the patient to report to the society.
The GMC had closed the case last year after an investigation that spanned three months. It concluded that the complaint had no merit because there was “no evidence that [Dr. Scott] discusses faith in situations where the patient has stated that they do not wish to discuss these matters or that he has continued to discuss faith after a patient has indicated that they do not welcome such a discussion.”
However, GMC is reviewing its decision to close the case after the NSS protested the closure and submitted fresh evidence that Dr Scott was “openly flouting the council’s code of conduct.”
The Centre said it was reopening the case against Dr Scott in line with Rule 12 of its fitness-to-practice rules. The rules permit the reviewing of cases when fresh information is received.
One of the new information, the Society claimed, is that the doctor’s patient complained about religion being forced on them. It also said Dr Scott admitted in an interview with The Daily Mail that he had discussed Christianity with over 40 patients previously.
The GMC conduct code permits medical professionals to talk about their personal beliefs if a patient asks them directly or indicates that they are open to a religious discussion.
The code prevents medical professionals from imposing their “beliefs and values” on patients because it can “cause distress.”
“Dr. Scott’s recent comments appear to make clear that he holds the GMC in contempt and considers himself above the rules it puts in place to protect patients,” NSS Chief Executive Stephen Evans said in a statement.
“Being an evangelical Christian should not exempt him from the standards expected of all doctors working in the U.K.”
