Anger At Doctor's Coercion

Anger at doctor's 'coercion'
EDITORIAL - editorial@thecomet.net



AT LEAST two families claim their doctor has attempted to coerce them into
having injections.

Both families received a letter from their GP, Dr Michael Duggan, on Tuesday
morning saying they would be struck from his register unless they took their
children in for the MMR vaccination - because it would cost him money if
they didn't.

An urgent investigation has been launched by health officials after outraged
mums Michelle Byrne and Natasha Grainger came to The Comet with the letter.

"I was disgusted," said Mrs Grainger, 29, mother of two-and-a-half-year-old
Nico.

"It's totally wrong. I have actually reported him to the General Medical
Council. I went with Dr Duggan because of good references from others, but I
don't want to see him again. I have applied for a transfer."

Both parents had decided against letting their children have the vaccine in
late 2003.

"I phoned up and told them I didn't want Nico to have it, and thought that
was the last I'd hear of it," added Mrs Grainger, of Minehead Way,
Stevenage.

"My sister has got a severely autistic son, and I didn't want Nico to have
the jab as there seems to be a tendency in our family towards it and there
has been a lot of controversy surrounding it."

It is believed a number of the letters were sent out from the Manor House
Surgery, Emperors Gate, Stevenage, on Monday.

It stated that the only way to stay on its list was to take their children
for the jab between 10am-11am on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Mum Michelle Byrne, 28, of Neptune Gate, also received the letter about her
son, two-and-a-half-year-old Ben Felstead.

"This has got absolutely nothing to do with my son's health," she said.

"Even if I was undecided about the MMR jab this would completely make my
mind up because it's all done for his monetary gain."

Dr Duggan's letter says that because they refused the jab, "this surgery has
for the first time failed to reach its vaccination targets".

He continues: "This has adversely affected my pay because we doctors are
unable to exclude from our targets any children whose parents dissent from
vaccinations.

"In view of this we have no other alternative but to remove such patients
from our list."

As the Manor House Surgery has not met its vaccination targets, it will lose
funding, and as Dr Duggan is the only registered GP at the surgery, he may
stand to lose personally.

A spokesperson for The Stevenage and North Herts Primary Care Trust thanked
The Comet for alerting them, adding: "The PCT will now investigate this as a
matter of urgency and work with the Local Medical Committee (the statutory
body representing GPs) and the GP himself as part of the process.

"The new contract which all family doctors work to does not encourage the
removal of patients from a GP list for financial gain.

"The Primary Care Trust is concerned to hear that patients are being
deregistered and does not support the principle of removal on these
grounds."

A spokesman for the General Medical Council, which safeguards standards of
medical ethics and practice, said they couldn't comment on individual cases,
but pointed to its guidance which says "doctors must not put undue pressure
on patients, or unfairly discriminate against them".

The guidance also says GPs "must not end relationships with patients solely
because of the financial impact of their care on the doctor's practice".

While it adds that it's reasonable for GPs to explain the system of target
payments to patients "as part of discussions about the immunisation",
patients "should never feel pressurised into participating because of the
financial consequences for the practice".

The guidance also says that persistently failing to meet the standards could
put a GP's registration at risk.

The Comet contacted the surgery, but Dr Duggan was not available to comment
at the time.

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