Dr Patrick Hart becomes the first working doctor to face a fitness to practice tribunal for climate activism.

Posted by: Alice - Posted on:

Bristol based GP, Dr Patrick Hart, whose fitness to practice tribunal begins today, is the first working doctor to face the possibility of erasure for participating in climate protest. He was referred to the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) by the General Medical Council (GMC) following his imprisonment earlier this year for a climate action designed to highlight the role of Exxon Mobil in the escalating climate health emergency.1

Dr Hart was working as a GP in Bristol until his imprisonment earlier this year following which the MPTS ordered an interim suspension pending his tribunal this week

The tribunal is the third convened so far to discipline climate activist doctors, with previous tribunals resulting in the suspension of retired GP’s Dr Sarah Benn2 and Dr Diana Warner.3, 4

The decision of the GMC to prosecute tribunal cases against doctors who are motivated to protect the public from the consequences of the unfolding climate and ecological crisis has drawn widespread criticism, including from the UN special Rapporteur, Micheal Forst, who has written to the UK government to outline his concerns.5

Members of the British Medical Association, have also condemned “…disciplinary action against those convicted of forms of civil disobedience which do not involve violence against the person” passing two motions in support of affected doctors at their Annual Representatives Meeting this year.6 Motions further committed to “…continue to regard any doctors erased from the register for non-violent protest as professional colleagues in good standing”. 

Public and professional support for Dr Hart and other climate activist doctors has also been expressed through a petition,7 frequent vigils at GMC premises,8, 9, 10. 11, 12 and an open letter to the GMC whose 2000+ signatories included Dr Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury.

Over 30 vigils have now taken place outside GMC premises in London and in Manchester
The GMC is pursuing disciplinary action against doctors whose action is motivated by a desire to protect patients from the climate health emergency

The General Medical council states that it is required by law to refer any doctor who receives a custodial sentence to the MPTS, but has failed to justify the conduct of these cases in which it argues that conviction is de facto evidence of misconduct regardless of motivation or context.4 The GMC further asserts, without presenting evidence to support its assertion, that public confidence in the profession will necessarily be negatively impacted by criminal convictions for climate activism, and further holds that a failure to show remorse for their protests is evidence of a lack of insight and remediation.

More than 130 health professionals have been arrested in the last few years to demand that the government do more to protect public health from the climate and ecological crisis, and with further court cases pending, it seems probable that unless GMC processes change, further tribunal hearings will follow. 

“Right now, the greatest health threat to all of us is the unfolding climate catastrophe. It is the greatest health threat we have ever faced. All healthcare workers have a responsibility to protect the health of their patients. If we do not stand up to the oil and gas executives who are wreaking havoc on our climate and the politicians who enable them, if we do not end the burning of fossil fuels, then we will have failed as a profession and the health systems that we have developed over centuries will collapse. I will continue to fight against the death sentence of fossil fuels for as long as I have strength in me. I have no greater duty as a doctor at this moment in history.” 

Dr Patrick Hart

Notes to Editors:

  1. GP Dr Patrick Hart given 12 month sentence for damage to petrol pumps and states he “will not give up on caring”: https://healthforxr.com/gp-given-custodial-sentence-for-damaging-petrol-pumps-states-he-will-not-give-up-on-caring/ 
  2. Dr Sarah Benn suspended for “serious professional miscinduct” for peaceful climate protest: https://healthforxr.com/dr-sarah-benn-found-guilty-of-serious-professional-misconduct-for-peaceful-climate-protest-hxr-statement/ 
  3. Dr Diana Warner found guilty by GMC of professional misconduct for climate protest: https://healthforxr.com/press-release-hxr-member-diana-warner-found-guilty-by-gmc-for-climate-protest/ 
  4. HXR statement in response to the GMC’s suspension of Dr Diana Warner for climate protest and its recent protest guidance: https://healthforxr.com/18th-august-2024-hxr-statement-in-response-to-the-gmcs-suspension-of-dr-diana-warner-for-climate-protest-and-protest-guidance/ 
  5. UN Special Rapporteur on environmental defenders under the Aarhus convention: https://www.lar.earth/statement-from-un-special-rapporteur-michel-forst/ 
  6. BMA passes two motions in support of doctors who undertake non-violent direct action at Annual Representatives Meeting: https://healthforxr.com/british-medical-association-passes-two-motions-in-support-of-doctors-who-undertake-non-violent-direct-action-at-annual-representatives-meeting/ 
  7. Help Health professionals keep their jobs while acting on the climate crisis: https://www.change.org/p/help-medical-professionals-keep-their-jobs-while-acting-on-the-climate-crisis 
  8. Health workers and members of the public gather to dispel the GMC’s pretence that climate action taken by doctors undermines public trust: https://healthforxr.com/health-workers-and-patients-gather-to-dispel-the-gmcs-pretence-that-climate-action-taken-by-doctors-undermines-public-trust/ 
  9. Doctors gather outside GMC offices as Dr Sarah Benn appeals her suspension for climate activism: https://healthforxr.com/3rd-dec-2024-doctors-gather-outside-gmc-hq-as-dr-sarah-benn-appeals-her-suspension-for-climate-activism/ 
  10. https://healthforxr.com/3621-2/
  11. Patients and healthworkers protest outside the general medical council committee meeting in Manchester today in solidarity with suspended climate activist GP Dr Patrick Hart: https://healthforxr.com/patients-and-health-workers-protest-outside-the-general-medical-councils-committee-meeting-in-manchester-today-in-solidarity-with-suspended-climate-activist-gp-dr-patrick-hart/ 
  12. Vigil held for jailed Bristol GP and Medical activist Dr Pat Hart: https://healthforxr.com/29th-march-2025-vigil-held-for-jailed-bristol-gp-and-medical-activist-dr-patrick-hart/ 
  13. Over 200 health journals urge world leaders to tackle “catastrophic harm”: https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2177