Like the Mississippi, Kate Middleton’s posts just keep rolling along. They roll on full flood, for ever and ever, a relentless flow of swirling words. But she gets away with it. She has the gift of words, and writes well. And – more to the point – what she has to say on her blog is of the greatest importance.
Middleton’s blog concerns an alleged sexual assault on her by a junior psychiatrist. The events happened nearly thirty years ago, in 1982, and there are those who say that they are so far in the past that it is time to let things be. Dr No does not agree. A sexual assault is a sexual assault, whether it happened yesterday, or many years ago. The passage of time cannot lessen its gravity. The fact that the alleged assault was carried out by a junior doctor on a minor – Middleton was 17 at the time – only serves to aggravate the gravity.
Middleton has lodged a complaint with the General Medical Council against the doctor concerned. The passage of time has seen that doctor – a Dr Khoosal – rise through the profession, and he is now an eminent consultant psychiatrist specialising in, amongst other things, gender identity, which is relevant: Middleton first presented all those years ago because, although at the time she appeared male, and had been brought up as a boy, she believed she was in fact female.
The allegation against Dr Khoosal is that he, as an inexperienced junior psychiatrist, carried out an inappropriate and unconsented genital examination on Middleton. It is further alleged that he submitted Middleton to a barrage of sexual questions conducted in an intrusive and insensitive manner. The effect of the whole on Middleton was highly traumatic, and led to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder, from which she still suffers, and numerous other difficulties, well documented on her blog.
The GMC, with typical perversity, have thrown the complaint out, citing the both the five year rule – that a complaint must be lodged within five years of the most recent events giving rise to the complaint – and a lack of corroborating evidence. Neither reason makes any sense.
Now, the five year rule, it should be noted, requires that a complaint be lodged within five years of the most recent events giving rise to the complaint. Not the original event, but the most recent events. As it happens, Middleton did not obtain copies of her notes until 2004. However you look at it, getting hold of the notes is a significant event in the process of establishing – and so giving rise to – a complaint. Dr No is no mathematician, but even he can do the sums to show that the interval between the most recent event (2004) and the date of lodging the complaint (2008) is less than five years. The GMC have no grounds for applying the five year rule.
And – even if they did, which they do not – they are able to vary the five year rule should a complaint merit investigation in the public interest. An allegation of sexual assault by a doctor on a vulnerable minor cannot be considered trivial. And yet – in what can only be described as an eye-wateringly bizarre remark – the GMC’s ‘Investigation Manager’ assessing the complaint – the infamous Anna Neill – said in a 2009 email that explained her reasons for dropping the case:
“Next, the gravity of the allegation was considered. Taken at face value the allegation of sexual assault is serious, but this type of allegation can cover various different degrees of culpability. From the statement made to the Police it appears that the described assault was in the context of a clinical examination. Whilst this does not diminish the effect this examination had on you, nor does it excuse the alleged inappropriate conduct of Dr Khoosal, this does lessen the gravity of the allegation of sexual assault.”
Remember, these are the GMC’s own words. If we take out all the padding, what we have is: “It appears that the described assault was in the context of a clinical examination [and] this does lessen the gravity of the allegation of sexual assault”. So – if Dr No dresses up in a white coat and gooses a unconsenting patient who is also a minor, all the while calling it a clinical examination, that is somehow less grave than if he drops his title and white coat and does the same thing to any other non-consenting minor?
To Dr No, it seems that an alleged assault conducted in a clinical setting, far from being less grave, is in fact more grave, precisely because it potentially abuses a vulnerable minor in position of trust. And yet the GMC – by deciding as it has – is sending out a clear message that such abuse is less grave. So much so, it would appear, that the case does not – regardless of the five year rule – merit investigation in the public interest.
Dr No has seen the medical records from 1982. They, now that they have come to light, do provide corroborating evidence (so removing the GMC’s other reason for not proceeding with the case). And while of course he was not present at the time, and so cannot know whether the allegations are true or not, it does seem, from the notes made at the time, that there is, at the very least, a strong case to answer. It is high time the GMC pulled its finger out and got on with the investigation.
I went to the police about this crime in 2007 during the trial at the GMC of Dr Russell Reid who saved my life twice, first in January 1988 and then in 1991 as well by giving me a free appointment when I was in serious trouble and referring me to the magician, Fay Presto, for advice and assistance.
I reminded him of this fact during his trial and he replied “of course, I gave you a free appointment …I knew you didn’t have any money”.
Reid was the only “psychiatrist” who provided me with anything remotely like care or help over this matter. It is Government policy that it is not a psychiatric problem.
Reid attracted a blog with 450 messages, mainly in support and with people saying that he saved their life.
There is also an internet petition with 1000 signatures complaining about the extremely abusive regime formerly run by “Professor” Richard Green at Charing Cross hospital.
Green was one of the doctors who reported Reid to the GMC for allegedly putting his patients health at risk. Some appalling and irresponsible behaviour by Green towards a very vulnerable patient was exposed during Reid’s trial yet the GMC did nothing.
One of the “star witnesses” used against Reid was “Paul Rowe” who had been telling stories to The Guardian, Sky TV and others about how “he” was really a man.
It became increasingly apparent during Reid’s trial that Rowe was not telling the truth. In fact, Rowe’s main argument as reported by David Batty in the Guardian seemed to be that “he” is a liar and Dr Reid is “too nice”.
The GMC final verdict found that Reid was guilty of “serious professional misconduct” for prescribing Rowe oestrogen without contacting “her” GP and that she “seemed” not to have been harmed by him because “she” had remained “in the female role” (whatever that is)
Rowe may not have been harmed by Reid but Rowe’s apparent lies in The Guardian will do serious damage to other people. According to Reid, Rowe has been making a living out of selling “sex change regret” stories. John Kingston QC told me not to worry …they had caught Rowe lying “all over the place”.
I then went to the police about Khoosal. We should all know about the GMC’s attitude to “gender psychiatists” who sexually abuse or rape their vulnerable patients. They never investigated Michael Haslam, a transvestite rapist:
http://www.popan.org.uk/info/documents/TheWomensStory.pdf
So…honest doctor: dishonest adult patient = serious professional conduct according to the GMC. [Reid, Rowe]
A criminal psychological and sexual assault on a sane minor by a thoroughly dishonest pervert is unworthy of investigation. [Middleton, Khoosal]
As I have explained to the GMC, I wrote a diary in my study at Radley which was found during the police “investigation” in the Warneford. It records all the symptoms of PTSD after a brutal attack – even attributing the onset of severe symptoms to the day Khoosal forced me to take off my clothes so he could fondle my genitals (25/11/82). I would stress that these symptoms are injury not illness. Dr Helen Bright has written excellently about this on her blog and I hope she will comment on the effect of sexual assault by a doctor on a child.
I also explained to the GMC that I refer directly to the Dire Straits album, “Love over Gold” to which I was listening at the time in my diary. Mark Knophler was thinking of a “girl on the edge” when he wrote the title track. Most appropriate …
The attitude of some of my colleagues at Radley was “maybe you could be a Bond girl?” when I told them what problem was and asked for some support. Caroline Cossey had just been “outed” as having been in “For Your Eyes Only” and one of them found a magazine with her in it. It was very kind of John Scriven and others. I still get rather emotional when I think about it.
My diary also refers to the sinister song “Private Investigations” on that album.
“He then [my housemaster](this is confidential) asked somebody lest I try to die! He really is an ineffectual little bastard. How could they stop me?”
(I’d just told him I felt slashing my wrists but he wasn’t being malicious – he was just out of his depth).
Listen to Mark Knophler..”confidential information…it’s in a diary..This is my investigation ..not a public enquiry”.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x871su_dire-straits-private-investigations_music
As you so rightly say, Khoosal committed a massive breach of trust against a vulnerable minor and I tried to commit suicide on 6th December 1982 in my study at Radley because of Khoosal.
I have been reporting it regularly ever since and been ignored until I went to the police. How many have not survived him?
Well done for being the first to actually read his notes. Thank you again. The GMC had better act now.
Hello Dr. No
Kate is not alone, my own case would probably prove interesting when what was a regional health authority oversaw the abuse of an intersex child (Me), and then later as an adult kept me in various institutions only to end up throwing me on the streets when the now “Health trust” decided to go into damage limitation mode. It is obvious there was a lot of back covering going on.
There presently seems to be a culture of fudge, dodge and run for the paper shredder over cases like this. They tend to compound the problem by withdrawing social “Care” in such a manner that the individual who was the victim of all this is too busy trying to find the basic means to survive (Housing, a reasonable doctor etc.) to even consider taking said past mistakes to court or in front of the GMC. As Kate seems to have illustrated well, it would seem that even if someone is able to take a case like this as far as the GMC the GMC also go into damage limitation mode, and compound it with statements such as the one you have quoted.
I firmly believe there are many Khoosals in the NHS as there are less than reputable priests in a certain church, I have endured considerable abuse from various medical professionals during my life, and have, like Kate been unable to find any justice within the NHS or the relevant regulatory bodies.
I think there is a total lack of accountability in the NHS as it is now, and I think all that does is give free reign to some medical professionals who should never have been given a license to practice and quite frankly should be facing criminal charges. But as you say, it seems the GMC likes to view all this very differently.
Hi Dr No and Sophia,
Sophia was my first ally on the net when she allowed me to comment on her blog without being censored.
Our stories have quite a few similarities and we share the same objectives which I think basically come down to consent and stopping abuse. It is also entirely possible that I have an undiagnosed intersex condition. I am not saying that as a means of justifying myself – I don’t need to – but I do know that my condition had some physical component and I was aware of this before puberty. It affects my central nervous system which was “primed” to have female genitals.
If I were intersex then this would not necessarily be an advantage. Ironically Caroline Cossey, the Bond girl and Playboy model, who was a great inspiration in 1982 cannot be legally recognised as a woman in this country and lives in America. She has Klienfelters syndrome and XXY chromosomes. I was treated in such a negligent and cruel manner that the possibilty of me having Klienfelters or Partial Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome was never considered.
It is certainly true that I was apparently described as “rather feminine in appearance and behaviour” (17/11/82) and it was a shock to find out years later that others saw me in the same way I saw myself at the time. Whatever it was I never identified as a boy and was very depressed from an early age.
Because of the activities of some “trans” activists it is possible to be recognised as female with a male body. There are situations where this is humane but equally it is outrageous that some intersex people are being denied human rights. Human Rights are Human Rights and we are guaranteed them under the European Convention which was brought in because of Auschwitz etc.
My chief refrain before I was legally recognised as female was “I feel like a Jew in Nazi Germany”- marked out as different with the wrong documentation. I therefore feel passionate empathy with those still in the same position.
This area of medicine is a mess. Andrew McCullock, dircetor of the Mental Health Foundation has called for Nice guidelines. I have spoken to them recently. I also take extreme exception to unelected trans activists speaking for me. I am a woman, not a “transperson”. The following is interesting because David Batty claims not to be biased:
http://www.transgenderzone.com/library/st/fulltext/62.htm
And here is patient B, Paula Rowe challenging Russell Reid. Rowe was shown to be a liar at the GMC. However, I do feel sympathy because Reid should never have treated this person:
http://www.transgenderzone.com/library/pr/fulltext/52.htm
The GMC verdict on Reid is inconclusive. Reid was found guilty of serious professional misconduct in respect of Rowe for giving hormones too soon..however teh conclusion that she appeared not to have suffered harm is a cop out. Of course Rowe suffered harm:
http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2007/05/25/reid.PDF
However, Richard Green who reported Reid is actively hated by many people. I am lucky not to be a former patient. Green is quoted on a pedophile site in North America along with his mentor, John Money. Money was responsible for experimenting on David Reimer and Green has said on the BBC he would have done the same:
http://www.nambla.org/psychol.htm
Green has form in the unscientific abuse of children for creative play. Threatening and intimidating children is a crime under the 1989 children act:
http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/22941/boy-in-a-blue-dress/
I had that done and worse in 1983/1984 and tried to commit suicide afterwards.
The GMC reaction illustrates that nothing has changed since the following article appeared in the Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2007/jan/28/health.socialcare
Doctors are basically unaccountable when they abuse patients
Here’s the latest email from the GMC. It was suggested to me earlier today that they may be frightened by a broadsheet contact…
What are they waiting for?
In reply please quote: E1-394KG5
Dear Ms Middleton
Thank you for your email and its attachment, which has been added to your case. The content will be considered alongside all your earlier submissions.
As mentioned, we are not able to provide a definitive timescale for providing you with a decision, particularly given the additional information you continue to submit for our consideration. We will, however, endeavour to write to you in the near future.
Yours sincerely
Ceri Fiona Floyd
Investigation Officer
Fitness to Practise Directorate
Direct Line: 0161-923-6411
Direct fax: 0161-923-6401
E-mail: cfloyd@gmc-uk.org