[Tony Montana]

More than 60,000 people have signed a petition backing a doctor who is under investigation for asking a Muslim patient to remove her veil.

Dr Keith Wolverson says he told the woman to take off her niqab so he could hear her describe what was wrong with her child.

He was reported to his bosses at Royal Stoke University Hospital after the patient’s husband complained she was upset by his “rude” request.

The freelance GP, who has been practising for 23 years, admits he is now ”rather fearful of the consequences” after finding out he has been reported to the General Medical Council (GMC) and will be the subject of a racial discrimination inquiry.

He said he would continue to “fight to the bitter end” in order to carry on working in the profession.

Speaking about the incident, the 52-year-old from Derby said: “I asked a lady to remove her face veil for adequate communication, in the same way I’d ask a motorcyclist to remove a crash helmet.
“When the letter came through, I was rather fearful of the consequences.

“I’m a little bit sad the country has been committed to depths such as this.

“But it takes more than this to knock me off my perch.”

Dr Wolverson said he was “absolutely bowled over” by the petition on change.org, which has now reached over 60,990 signatures.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/h...-a8930176.html


Here's the petition
https://www.change.org/p/general-med...-getting-fired

[Jessica.]

He's only under investigation, not facing sack.

[Tony Montana]

Originally Posted by Jessica.

He's only under investigation, not facing sack.

Oops, I could've sworn it said facing sack at first.

[MTVN]

So it describes her as a patient but then says she was there about her child. I'm sure the doctor was quite capable of hearing her through the veil so I don't think there was a need for her to remove it in this case

[Ammi]

...I’m interested as to who the creator of the petition is...


“I believe he acted in the best interest of the child involved and there was no racist or religious discrimination in his actions.

“We need to ensure the General Medical Council treat this man fairly and look at all the evidence.

“Our NHS is severely understaffed and we cannot afford to lose doctors due to fabricated accusations of discrimination.”


...How could they possibly know whether something had been ‘fabricated’ or know that no discrimination had taken place..?...

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Jessica.

He's only under investigation, not facing sack.

He is unable to work while under investigation as he is a freelancer and his agency won't send him out

[Cherie]

Difficult one to judge, on the one hand she is in his private office and with her husband and child and he may have had difficulty understanding how she was describing the childs symptoms and thought removing her veil might help him and her communicate better, why couldn't the husband have explained? was he in the room as he is the one who complained? so I'm thinking English may be a second language, on the other hand he might be a power mad pompous ass ...who knows.....its all a bit too vague, so I won't be signing the petition

[user104658]

She wasn't the patient and there was no medical reason to have her remove it so I'm dubious about his motivations for doing so. He also seems not to be apologetic about it in the slightest and is essentially still claiming the moral high-ground, which isn't going to go in his favour.

[UserSince2005]

Crazy, this shouldnt be happening in london.

[Oliver_W]

Why is this even something to be investigated? It can be hard to hear what they're saying through those things.

[Daniel-X]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

Why is this even something to be investigated? It can be hard to hear what they're saying through those things.

this is just- beyond words.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

Why is this even something to be investigated? It can be hard to hear what they're saying through those things.

Are you for real?

It's like saying women need to move their hair out the way to be able to hear.

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

Are you for real?

It's like saying women need to move their hair out the way to be able to hear.

Not necessarily. Sometimes the material on those outfits are pretty thick, so it muffles the speech. If the lady had a strong accent, I could believe it was hard to hear her clearly.

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

Not necessarily. Sometimes the material on those outfits are pretty thick, so it muffles the speech. If the lady had a strong accent, I could believe it was hard to hear her clearly.

[rusticgal]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

Are you for real?

It's like saying women need to move their hair out the way to be able to hear.

If a woman couldn’t hear someone because of her hair she would put it behind her ear...if a Doctor could not understand what the woman was saying because she had a veil covering her mouth what is so wrong in asking her to lift it?...and if the woman wanted the Doctor to help her child...what’s more important? Lifting her veil to help him understand...or not lifting her veil and not helping her child?

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by rusticgal

If a woman couldn’t hear someone because of her hair she would put it behind her ear...if a Doctor could not understand what the woman was saying because she had a veil covering her mouth what is so wrong in asking her to lift it?...and if the woman wanted the Doctor to help her child...what’s more important? Lifting her veil to help him understand...or not lifting her veil and not helping her child?

If you take it at face value (ha). Judging by the quotes, it clearly was not.

[hijaxers]

Do Muslim female doctors treat patients whilst wearing a veil ? I want to see who i am speaking to.

[Crimson Dynamo]

And she was upset why?

[user104658]

"I’m a little bit sad the country has been committed to depths such as this."

Tells you all you need to know really. If he genuinely didn't realise that he was being insensitive he would just say so, apologise, and the GMC would send him on some sort of 2-hour training course and that would be the end of it. But that would stick in his throat because when it comes down to it, the truth is probably that he just thinks "those garments don't belong in the UK".

[Alf]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

"I’m a little bit sad the country has been committed to depths such as this."

Tells you all you need to know really. If he genuinely didn't realise that he was being insensitive he would just say so, apologise, and the GMC would send him on some sort of 2-hour training course and that would be the end of it. But that would stick in his throat because when it comes down to it, the truth is probably that he just thinks "those garments don't belong in the UK".

2 hour 1984 watch your thought crime indoctrination course?

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Alf

2 hour 1984 watch your thought crime indoctrination course?

Why do you always bring up "thought crimes" in threads about people's actions?

Thoughts cease to be just that when they become words and actions.

[Alf]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

Why do you always bring up "thought crimes" in threads about people's actions?

Thoughts cease to be just that when they become words and actions.

Because the doctor thought it would be easier to communicate with her if he could see her. And now is being accused of some sort of a crime for that thought.

Is that an acceptable explanation?

[Twosugars]

Originally Posted by Alf

Because the doctor thought it would be easier to communicate with her if he could see her. And now is being accused of some sort of a crime for that thought.

Is that an acceptable explanation?

Ever heard of the telephone?
You don't need to see somebody to communicate

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Alf

Because the doctor thought it would be easier to communicate with her if he could see her. And now is being accused of some sort of a crime for that thought.

Is that an acceptable explanation?

No. Because, again, that's not a thought that is an action.

If someone gets raped, the rapist doesn't get arrested for thinking about raping her, he's arrested for the action of raping her.

Equally, this doctor is not under investigation for any thoughts he had, but for his actual treatment of this woman.

[joeysteele]

Going to be controversial here.

I think he was right just as Jack Straw was years ago too.

I'm sorry but I think I and everyone have the right to see who we are talking to.
I support his stand.