Group of 10 doctors ‘face being struck off for swapping offensive messages over WhatsApp’ 

A group of 10 doctors face being struck off for swapping ‘offensive’ messages and pictures on a secret WhatsApp group for two years.

Police uncovered years’ worth of messages after an unrelated investigation which cleared the medics, according to the Sun.

But members of the group now face General Medical Council (GMC) disciplinary hearings after the case was referred to Health Education England. 

The doctors were named after a justice at the High Court in London threw out their bid for anonymity on grounds of open justice.

A group of 10 doctors face being struck off for swapping ‘offensive’ messages and pictures on a secret WhatsApp group for two years. Police uncovered years’ worth of messages after an unrelated investigation which cleared the medics. Pictured, stock image

The names include Dr R Fijten, Dr Y Craichen, Dr A Patel, Dr P Cameron and Dr J James. Others identified were Dr G Jayasinghe, Dr A Sarnowski, Dr D Walker, Dr R Smith and Dr A Tappouni, the paper added.

The content of the messages sent between the doctors has not yet been disclosed, but is expected to emerge as the case progresses. 

Some of the accused are understood to have qualified in just the past five years, some of them as GPs, and to work in south London or the Home Counties.  

But members of the group now face General Medical Council (GMC) disciplinary hearings after the case was referred to Health Education England. Pictured, stock image 

All 10 involved have admitted sending messages and being part of the WhatsApp group between February 2014 and October 2016.

Four of the accused also admitted failing to report the messages, while two said they had failed to act ‘with integrity’ and risked patients’ trust. But all 10 denied their fitness to practice had been ‘impaired’ by misconduct.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal will now decide whether or not to suspend them or strike their names from the medical register.