The General Medical Council is examining comments by a controversial doctor who used a speech at Reform UK\u2019s conference to link Covid vaccines to cancer in the royal family, amid mounting condemnation of him by senior medics.<\/p>\n
The regulator, which is charged with upholding professional standards in UK medicine, is also progressing with an investigation into Aseem Malhotra, currently an adviser to Donald Trump\u2019s health secretary, Robert F Kennedy, over a previous claim. It may consider whether to stop or limit his ability to work as a doctor in the UK in the interests of protecting the public.<\/p>\n
There have been warnings from medical bodies that his \u201cpseudo-science\u201d remarks could undermine trust in doctors.<\/p>\n
Keir Starmer used prime minister\u2019s questions on Wednesday to hit out at Reform UK and Malhotra, saying: \u201cThe man who wrote Reform\u2019s health policy has made shocking and baseless claims that vaccines are linked to cancer and that has been endorsed by Reform.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese dangerous conspiracies cost lives and it shows that Reform can\u2019t be trusted with our NHS.\u201d<\/p>\n
After being given a prime speaking slot at Reform UK\u2019s conference, Malhotra set out what he said were findings showing that vaccines \u201ccreated havoc\u201d in the human body.<\/p>\n
He added that a doctor whom he described as one of Britain\u2019s most eminent oncologists had asked him to share something, adding: \u201cHe thinks it\u2019s highly likely that the Covid vaccines have been a factor, a significant factor in the cancer of members of the royal family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reform UK has sought to distance the party from the comments made by Malhotra, a British cardiologist who continues to practise in the UK and whose work includes being part of the team involved in a London \u201cbio-hacking\u201d firm offering \u201clongevity solutions\u201d.<\/p>\n
Malhotra accused Starmer of making \u201cfalse statements\u201d and said he was fully behind the role of \u201ctraditional\u201d vaccines. In relation to Reform UK\u2019s health policy, he said he had had conversations with David Bull, currently the party chair.<\/p>\n
Bull introduced Malhotra on Saturday as someone who \u201cworked with me to write Reform UK\u2019s health policy\u201d.<\/p>\n
Malhotra told the Guardian on Wednesday: \u201cThere are plenty of political figures who support my position. I also have doctors who thank me for what I am doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr Jeanette Dickson, the chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, which represents doctors professionally, welcomed the GMC\u2019s decision to examine his remarks.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am not surprised the GMC is reviewing Dr Malhotra\u2019s comments. Two years ago Dr Malhotra was claiming the Covid mRNA vaccine was responsible for excess heart disease. Last weekend he implied a link between the king\u2019s cancer and the same vaccine.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth propositions have been roundly condemned by experts. We all know this is how conspiracy theories begin, with anti-vaccine theories being particularly pernicious because they can and do save lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
Malhotra\u2019s action risked jeopardising the public\u2019s widespread and longstanding trust in doctors, Dickson added. \u201cPeople trust doctors because they practise evidence-based medicine. We cannot afford to diminish that concept with simple-sounding populism in search of a round of applause.\u201d<\/p>\n
The British Medical Association also criticised Malhotra\u2019s remarks. \u201cIt is dangerous and irresponsible to promote pseudo-science or anti-science messages, and give platforms to those who do,\u201d said Dr Tom Dolphin, the BMA\u2019s chair.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn the one hand, remarks like this from a doctor on such a prominent platform risk individual and public health if people take them seriously and avoid vaccines.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn the other, the more outlandish such claims get, the more likely we see reputation and trust in the medical profession undermined.\u201d<\/p>\n