Former GP is suspended for five months over protests to end fossil fuel extraction

Dear Editor

Don’t shoot the messenger.

I am angry that Dr Sarah Benn has been suspended from the medical register for 5 months by the GMC. She was demonstrating against government policy on climate change. The GMC refused to consider Dr Benn’s motivation, which was impeccable. Our collapsing climate is a terrifying and avoidable public health disaster but what is even more terrifying is an institution such as the GMC supporting the polluting status quo. I repeat: they discounted her motivation. This is inhuman nonsense. Sarah Benn is one of a tiny number of Doctors who have the courage to act in the face of an awful truth rather than complain but carry on regardless. Doctors, especially those in elevated positions, should speak the truth, especially when it is uncomfortable. It is an outrageous dereliction of duty to remain silent in the face of probably the worst public health threat there has ever been. Doctors such as Sarah Benn who are willing to take a personal stand and make personal sacrifices to expose destructive entrenched power deserve support not sanction.

I know Sarah and there can be no doubt at all as to her integrity. Thousands of doctors talk and express their opinions on the climate but most of us remain polite, compliant and scared to risk our own privileges. It is negligent to watch politely as powerful, profitable polluters ignore the risks and continue to increase emissions. It is naive to think that entrenched power will change without legislative force. We have to be honest: our current political system is both immune to scientific fact and is failing to take care of us. Action, as taken by Dr Benn, disturbs the status quo and demands discussion of the terrible realities of climate collapse. Her single handed action has stimulated massive public debate. The climate crisis is a health crisis and the medical profession must challenge the profitable, polluting status quo. Doctors should teach. We have a duty to challenge established power and established money that distort our politics and our media. Let’s be honest, they also distort our medical establishment. When the system is failing, truthful voices such as Sarah’s will inevitably and properly be disruptive.

For a better future we have to disrupt the present. Our climate is collapsing, the pace is dizzying and the time left is approaching zero. Yet global emissions continue to rise and every fossil fuel producing country including the UK plans to increase production. The fossil fuel narrative that “all is well” is gaining ground. Systematic misinformation abounds despite the overwhelming evidence that “normal life” is irreversibly wrecking all that we need and cherish. Doctors must stand up to complicit, morally suspect institutions, including medical institutions such as the GMC, if they refuse to respect and support remarkable doctors who are willing to make bold public acts of conscience. As Doctors it is our duty to support colleagues such as Sarah Benn who expose truth to power.

We all need to be more like Sarah. We face bigger risks when good people remain silent than when bad people do their worst. We must stand with those that stand up to be counted. Anything less than this is cowardice.