The Common Medical Council (GMC) has closed a three-year investigation into the neurologist and retired Catholic priest with a choice to take no additional motion.
Dr Patrick Pullicino, who was one of many medical doctors who raised abuse within the Liverpool Care Pathway in 2012, was investigated after gender and sexuality educational Celia Kitzinger raised health to observe issues.
She claimed he was biased in a medical opinion he issued in a 2021 lawsuit over end-of-life remedy.
The case concerned a middle-aged Polish man, named solely as RS, who had suffered mind injury from a coronary heart assault and whether or not vitamin and fluids needs to be withdrawn.
It has been urged that Pullicino, 74, allowed his religion to form his opinion and that he “might have intentionally misdiagnosed the affected person within the hope of saving his life”.
After a courtroom determined behind closed doorways whether or not his medical observe needs to be suspended, the GMC determined to take no motion.
“Dr Pullicino is an skilled marketing consultant neurologist with specialist registration and a license to observe, and we’ve got no proof to counsel that he lacks competence to evaluate a affected person's stage of consciousness,” it mentioned.
The GMC choice continued: “We’ve got no proof to help such a declare [his medical opinion] was inaccurate.
“We’ve got concluded that there isn’t any sensible prospect of proving these allegations and they’re closed with none motion.”
As for Dr. Pullicino's beliefs, they dominated: “No proof was introduced to help the declare that Dr. Pullicino's non secular beliefs or private beliefs influenced his view of the MS affected person.”
Responding to the choice, Dr Pullicino mentioned he was “relieved and happy” however mentioned the GMC “ought to by no means have allowed the investigation to proceed towards me”.
He mentioned he was a “clear goal” due to his non secular beliefs and perception that “medical doctors ought to do every part to save lots of one other particular person's life”.
“I’m involved that it has taken so lengthy to be vindicated and cleared,” he added.
Andrea Williams, govt director of the Christian Authorized Centre, which supported him in his case: “The irony shouldn’t escape us that it is a physician beneath investigation who was truly making an attempt to save lots of a life.”
She continued: “The case highlights the rising stress on medical professionals to not break ranks with their colleagues who’ve taken the controversial choice to finish a affected person's life.
“In delicate end-of-life instances, dissenting medical specialists danger harsh criticism from courts and activists, resulting in prolonged and traumatic investigations by skilled regulators.”
She added: “We’d like extra medical doctors and professionals who’re able to fearlessly defend a affected person's proper to life.”
