A petition to 'save the reputation' of a 52 year old GP who has been in medicine for 23 years with an unblemished record, and asked a Muslim woman to remove her veil (niqab), so that he could hear her during a consultation has been signed by more than 2500 people. Dr Keith Wolverson last week received a letter from the General Medical Council (GMC) telling him his conduct was being 'investigated' over claims that he 'discriminated' against a woman.
The Mail on Sunday reported that he was 'deeply' upset for being alleged of racial discrimination over the incident and did not want to work as a doctor any longer. He reportedly said, “quest to perform the very finest consultation for the safety of the patient has been misinterpreted in a duplicitous manner to suggest there has been an act of racism committed.”
Last June the woman was speaking about her daughter's 'feared' tonsillitis, but the doctor apparently asked her to remove her veil, so that he could hear her clearly. The GP claims she did so without any complaint, but later her husband arrived and she allegedly complained to bosses at the Royal Stoke University Hospital in Stoke-on-Trent.
The petition that started two days ago, is calling for Dr Wolverson to be treated fairly by the GMC.
The Evening Standard reported that a spokesman for the Doctors' Association UK told the Mail on Sunday, "It is of utmost importance that the religious wishes of our patients are respected.
"However, evidently there are some circumstances where removal of a niqab or burqa is necessary for medical assessment and treatment.
"The GMC should consider issuing clear guidelines to protect both doctors and our patients."
