News
The SMF is actively engaged in work to end ritual genital surgery on non-consenting children. In January 2010, Dr Lempert met with senior GMC officials in London to present the case that the GMC's current 'no position' approach is inconsistent and contradictory. The GMC openly turns a blind eye to infractions of its own guidance when it meets religious resistance. It is failing in its statutory duty to protect the public. Please read the letter in the Resources section of the SMF website. The GMC's response to this letter indicates that it still has no plans to change its guidance.
In December 2009, the SMF and the NSS jointly submitted a response to the Director of Public Prosecution's Interim Policy for Prosecutors on Assisted Suicide. The consultation followed the ruling in the House of Lords in the Debbie Purdy case that the existing law should be clarified. Our submission is available to read on the resources section of the website. The DPP published his final policy in early 2010.
The General Pharmaceutical council (GPhC) is a new regulatory body for pharmacists. The SMF responded to the consultation exercise by the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) in January. Our full response is available to read on the resources section of the website. The SMF was disappointed to hear that the GPhC intends to allow pharmacists with strong personal religious beliefs to opt out of providing some services to patients. Patients' needs should take priority over the views of professional healthcare providers who have freely chosen their profession. We will continue to lobby for a code of conduct similar to the code produced by the GMC for medical practitioners. Pharmacists should be prepared to set aside their own views if that is what is in the best interests of patients.
In April 2010 the SMF responded to the Sex and Relationship Education Consultation by the Dept of Children, Schools and Families. We argued that the very children who might most need this education are often the ones denied unbiased informative information by religious schools or by religious parents.