Doctor who claimed hospital is a ‘Jewish supremacy cesspit’ faces medical tribunal

A doctor who claimed that the “Royal Free Hospital in London is a Jewish supremacy cesspit” has appeared before a medical tribunal.

Dr Rahmeh Aladwan, 31, is being investigated by the GMC over a series of posts and comments made across various social media platforms following a number of complaints including from the Jewish Medical Association UK and the Campaign Against Antisemitism.

Last month the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) ruled it would not impose interim conditions on her registration, saying it did not believe the complaints against her were “sufficient to establish that there may be a real risk to patients”.

On Thursday, Dr Aladwan appeared before a different MPTS tribunal after the GMC re-referred the matter following “substantial new information” since the last hearing which involved further social media posts suggesting a “doubling down of concerning conduct”.

However, Dr Aladwan’s lawyer, Kevin Saunders, applied for the proceedings in Manchester to be stayed due to an abuse of process which he said was an “affront to the rule of law”.

He said: “This is mere regurgitation of the matters that were previously litigated. This is a perversion of procedure and an attempt to relitigate until the General Medical Council, and those placing pressure on the General Medical Council, achieve the result they desire. This is, on any view, a brazen attempt to keep relitigating this matter before a tribunal until the General Medical Council gets the result it wants.”

He went on to criticise Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting, as he said it would be “implausible to contend” that last’s month ruling did not provoke a “political reaction”.

Mr Saunders said: “It ill behoves Wes Streeting to seek to undermine the rule of law and the determination of an objective independent tribunal.”

Earlier this month Mr Streeting said he would look to overhaul the way medical regulators investigate cases of antisemitism as the current system was “completely failing to protect Jewish patients and NHS staff”.

Emma Gilsenan, representing the GMC, denied the decision to re-refer was due to “external pressure” and said it was a “necessary and proportionate referral”.

She said the decision by a case examiner was based on information, surrounding social media posts by Dr Aladwan from September 29 to October 2, which “takes on a new tone” and “suggests a continuation and doubling down of concerning conduct”.

Ms Gilsenan said it raised questions of public confidence in the doctor and the profession.

She said the case examiner was clear they would not have referred the matter back but for Dr Aladwan’s alleged further comments “of a similar and arguably more concerning nature” which appeared to be “taking on an increasing racist and antisemitic flavour”.

Dr Aladwan was also said to have been “more explicit” in her alleged support of proscribed terrorist groups, the tribunal heard.

Among Dr Aladwan’s previous social media posts was a comment that the October 7 Hamas attack represented the day Israel was “humiliated” and a claim that the “Royal Free Hospital in London is a Jewish supremacy cesspit”.

Her lawyers reiterated that she was exercising her freedom of speech to oppose crimes by Israel, including those identified by the United Nations.

It has also been said that she had an impeccable clinical record and was herself a direct victim of genocide and of dispossession.

MPTS interim orders tribunal chair Lee Davies ruled there was no abuse of process and that the hearing should go ahead.

The hearing was adjourned until a date to be fixed, with more preliminary legal argument expected.

The GMC could eventually refer Dr Aladwan to a full medical practitioners tribunal if it concludes she has a case to answer over the complaints it has received.

The MPTS would then decide if her fitness to practise is impaired and what action, if any, should be taken.

On Tuesday Dr Aladwan was arrested on suspicion of misusing a public communications network, sending malicious communications and stirring up racial hatred.

The Met Police investigation relates to allegations that comments made at a July protest in London, and also online in recent months, were ” grossly offensive and antisemitic”.