LONDON — A retired general practitioner, Dr. Diana Warner, has had her medical license suspended following her involvement in non-violent climate change protests, marking her as the second doctor to face such consequences. Warner, who serviced the Bristol area for over three decades, was sentenced to imprisonment after being found guilty of defying private anti-protest injunctions aimed at preventing disruptions on the M25 motorway in 2021 and 2022.
During her plea hearing in an East London magistrate court in 2022, Warner escalated her protest by gluing her hand to the dock, an act that resulted in a six-week jail term. Her convictions led to scrutiny from the General Medical Council (GMC), which ultimately decided to suspend her medical license.
In her defense, Warner argued before the medical practitioners tribunal that her actions were a form of “peaceful civil resistance” necessitated by what she perceived as the government’s failure to adequately address the looming threat of climate change. However, the GMC’s barrister contended that her actions tarnished the reputation of the medical profession and could erode public trust.
While the tribunal recognized that Warner’s clinical skills were not in question, they expressed concerns that her unlawful activities might lead patients to doubt her judgment.
This ruling follows a similar case in April, where Dr. Sarah Benn, another retired GP from Birmingham, received a five-month license suspension for her participation in a protest at Kingsbury oil terminal. Benn, who is currently appealing the decision with support from the British Medical Association (BMA), had also breached a private injunction by protesting on private property.
Further intensifying concerns within the medical community, Dr. Patrick Hart, a practicing GP in Bristol known for his climate activism, faces an upcoming tribunal next February. Hart, who has previously been convicted for similar non-violent protests leading to a suspended sentence, has chosen to reject a formal warning from the GMC.
Dr. Emma Runswick, the deputy chair of the BMA council, criticized the GMC’s decisions, insisting that peaceful protest should not influence a doctor’s professional standing. Runswick warned that such rulings could establish a “dangerous precedent,” where unrelated legal issues could disproportionately affect a medical professional’s career.
Criticisms of the GMC extend beyond these individual cases. The regulator previously faced backlash for its handling of historical cases, including the inappropriate sanctioning of gay doctors convicted under obsolete anti-homosexuality laws, for which the GMC issued apologies this year.
Amidst this controversy, Warner has described her own legal and professional battles as “horrendous,” noting that exhaustive legal proceedings and the fear of losing her ability to practice medicine contributed to numerous sleepless nights. She mentioned her extensive efforts to sway government policy on environmental issues, including her run as a parliamentary candidate for the Green Party.
Warner also made a passionate comparison in her defense, indicating that while the actions she protested against weren’t as dire as historical atrocities, they nonetheless represented a significant moral and existential crisis due to their potential to cause widespread harm through environmental damage.
In response to the controversy, Anthony Omo, the GMC’s director of fitness to practice, reiterated that while doctors like other citizens are entitled to express personal views and engage in activism, they must also understand that breaking the law for any cause carries implications that could jeopardize public trust in the medical profession.