Dr Ghassan Abu Sittah vindicated as application by General Medical Council to suspend him from practicing is rejected
London, 27th August 2024- Professor Ghassan Abu Sittah, a renowned British-Palestinian plastic and reconstructive surgeon, has been vindicated after an application to suspend him from practicing medicine during an investigation against him by the General Medical Council was resoundingly rejected by the ‘Interim Orders Tribunal’.
The initial complaint was made by the pro-Israeli lobbying and ‘lawfare’ organisation UK Lawyers For Israel (UKLFI). The group claimed that posts he had allegedly made on social media impaired his fitness to practice medicine, and sought for his medical license to be suspended. This smear was designed to bring Dr Abu Sittah’s distinguished reputation into disrepute, and it would have undermined his prominent profile as a public figure in the British Palestinian community. It also sought to undermine Dr Abu Sittah’s rights to freedom of expression.
In response to the complaint, Dr Abu Sittah argued that the complaint was political in nature. He also made it clear that he was not the author of a number of the posts in question, and that others had been translated inaccurately. The Tribunal were concerned by UKLFI’s inability to provide verification of translations of the Arabic language posts in question.
The Tribunal also dismissed UKLFI’s arguments that there was a risk to patients or members of the public due to the social media posts, as there was no evidence that patient safety would be compromised. Conversely, several impressive testimonies suggested the opposite, including one by a British-Israeli colleague who spoke of Dr Abu Sittah’s fair treatment of patients.
Dr Abu Sittah was represented by a legal team from Bindmans LLP, 11KBW and Furnival Chambers, including Tayab Ali, Axel Landin, Zac Sammour and Soraya Bauwens. As well as being Head of International Law at Bindmans LLP, Tayab Ali is also Director of the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP).
Dr Abu Sittah volunteered his medical services in Gaza during the genocide for forty-three days from the 9thOctober 2023. Upon his return to London, he spoke at a press conference organised by the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians, where he told his story of the horrors he had witnessed during the genocide, including amputating six different children in one night and being forced to use vinegar as antiseptic, and intravenous paracetamol as pain relief for surgeries.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians is an independent organisation of lawyers, politicians and academics who support the rights of Palestinians and aim to protect their rights through the law.
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