February 27, 2025

When "Fit To Practice" Feels Unsafe

27 minutes

In this episode of the Resilient Birth Podcast, Justine and Sarah delve into the complex issues surrounding patient safety, particularly in the context of a gynecologist who has faced serious allegations of misconduct and admitted to 24 allegations of harm. Nonetheless, a tribunal has recently decided that he is “fit to practice.” They discuss the implications of these allegations on trust in healthcare, the importance of psychological safety for patients, and question of who gets to decide what safety looks like and what safeguarding measures might be important. The conversation highlights the voices of victims, the disconnect between healthcare providers and patients, and the broader systemic issues that contribute to ongoing harm in medical settings.

Quotes are from these news resources:

https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2025-02-14/doctor-who-removed-ovaries-without-consent-ruled-fit-to-practise

https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2025-02-18/women-under-care-of-ovary-removal-surgeon-demand-change-of-doctor

After recording Sarah remembered the podcast she refers to in the episode about another doctor who had harmed patients called "Exposed: Cover-Up at Columbia University"

Keywords: patient safety, healthcare trust, medical ethics, gynecological care, psychological safety, medical misconduct, patient rights, healthcare system, trauma, women's health

Takeaways:

Patient safety encompasses both physical and psychological aspects.

Allegations against healthcare providers can severely impact patient trust.

The tribunal process may not adequately address victim concerns.

Psychological safety is crucial in medical settings, especially for vulnerable patients.

The voices of victims should be central in discussions about healthcare safety and safeguarding.

There is often a disconnect between healthcare providers and the experiences of patients.

Doctors can and do cause harm, despite their oath to do no harm.

The system often prioritizes the protection of healthcare providers over patient safety.

Women often bear the burden of navigating unsafe medical environments.

The need for systemic change in how allegations against doctors are handled.

Sound Bites

"You don't harm people's bodies."

"Where's the safety in that?"

"The power and the bravery of the women who spoke up."

"We're focusing on the wrong thing."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Patient Safety Concerns

05:44 The Impact of Allegations on Trust in Healthcare

10:07 Psychological Safety in Medical Practice

15:10 The Role of Tribunals and Safeguards

20:57 The Voices of Victims and Their Experiences

25:59 The Dichotomy of Harm in Healthcare

30:20 The Disconnect Between Patients and Healthcare Providers

On the Resilient Birth podcast, Justine and Sarah explore the impact of trauma across the perinatal period, from trying-to-conceive to pregnancy, from childbirth to postpartum and parenting. Through an inspirational quote that drives our weekly conversations about trauma and healing, Justine and Sarah explore topics such as birth trauma, parenting as a survivor, and finding healing with vulnerability and compassion that support birthing people and birth professionals.

Each week, listeners leave with takeaways to utilize in their lives and/or clients. Justine and Sarah hold the stories they share with honor and respect with the hope to impart knowledge, increase understanding, and bear witness to this challenging topic.

Sarah is a licensed mental health counselor, educator, and mom of three. She walks with a story of trauma from before and as a result of her perinatal experience.

Justine supports survivors of trauma through perinatal coaching and childbirth education. As well as being a mother of three, she holds a Ph.D. on representations of consent and sexual violence and is currently doing a Masters in Counselling.

Learn more about Sarah and Justine's trainings: https://www.resilientbirth.com/workshops

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By Justine Leach and Sarah Adelmann