The incident has sparked off a national row among doctors on the issue of free speech, with one organisation claiming it will lead to the gagging of junior doctors.

The doctor, whose identity has been protected by colleagues, was training as a surgical specialist registrar when he posted remarks about Professor Dame Carol Black on an internet forum for medical professionals.

His views were seen by members of the London Deanery — which oversees postgraduate training for over 8500 doctors and dentists nationwide — who contacted their Highland counterparts and instructed NHS Highland to suspend the doctor.

The incident has already created a minor celebrity status for the Inverness trainee, who is known only as Dr Scot Junior on web-blogs and other internet forums.

The comments, which included offensive language, have since been removed from the website.

They were a reaction to the re-election of Professor Black as the chairwoman of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, which promotes and supports the work of colleges and their faculties. Professor Black, who is also chairwoman of the Nuffield Trust and the UK Government's national director for health and work, has been a controversial figure since overseeing changes to the training regime for junior doctors.

The forum entry was seen by Professor Elisabeth Paice, dean director of postgraduate medical and dental education at the London Deanery.

She alerted Aberdeen-based Professor Gillian Needham, postgraduate dean at the North of Scotland Deanery, who brought it to the attention of NHS Highland, which in turn, as the junior doctor's employers, issued the indefinite suspension.

Yesterday, Professor Paice defended the move. "Many of the things doctors say on internet forums express their disagreement with or anger about issues," she said. "It is right that they are able to do so.

"However, there is a point at which the personal abuse of individuals reaches such viciousness that it is unprofessional."

One of the websites featuring the escalating row in the medical profession.

She pointed out that guidelines drawn up by the General Medical Council (GMC) included a section on treating colleagues with respect.

"No one wishes to curtail doctors' right to free speech about issues that they feel strongly about," Professor Paice continued. "But it is right, just as in any other walk of life, that they do so without recourse to vicious personal attacks."

It is understood the case was assessed by a local disciplinary committee, which advised the junior doctor should be reinstated. However, his return was apparently blocked by Professor Needham, who refused to comment yesterday.

NHS Highland chairman Garry Coutts confirmed the doctor remained under suspension but declined to comment on the case. He stressed the doctor's absence was not affecting patient care at Raigmore.

Remedy UK, an organisation representing over 13,000 junior doctors, is concerned that the treatment of the Inverness doctor will discourage others from voicing opinions on their profession.

"People are gobsmacked and really quite shocked," said head of policy Richard Marks. "It seems like a totally disproportionate response, unless there's more to it than we know."

The affair is in danger of backfiring on the deanery, with some websites calling for the suspension of Professor Paice and for disciplinary action to be taken against Professor Needham. It is understood complaints have been lodged with the GMC, which would not comment yesterday.

Other postings have been critical of Professor Black, who is on holiday and could not be contacted.

andrew.dixon@inverness-courier.co.uk

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