On Panorama last night we saw disturbing evidence of the facts surrounding the case of the notorious paediatrician Professor David Southall who, judging from the evidence uncovered in last night’s programme, has been the target of hate campaigns and what amounted to a media stoning amid a frenzy of accusations from vengeful parents, and it’s cost him his job and his reputation.

And if the evidence produced by Panorama is to be believed – and let’s face it, they aren’t known for telling porkies – then Southall has been the victim of a witch hunt; even some of his colleagues and the General Medical Council have effectively ignored evidence that would’ve vindicated him while others have actively contrived to produce damning evidence of him… But why would they do such a thing?

Well, one might argue that given the tidal wave of public hatred for Southall at the time, and amidst the very emotive issues that were also rife at the time regarding doctors falsely accusing parents of child abuse, they didn’t want to be seen to be ‘closing ranks’ and Southall was therefore made a scapegoat when paediatricians in particular were hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Read more & comment »