Dr Sexton’s characterisation of support for Dr McGinity as a ‘PR Campaign’ and the actions of his supporters as like a ‘soccer crowd’ are appaling and do him and the Medical Council no credit. His public position is insensitive and as a result, creates doubt about the level of procedural fairness that will be afforded to Dr McGinity. The Health Minister’s comment (Examiner 24 June) that suspended doctors shouldn’t “have public rallies,” appears equally insensitive. It is of concern to me that there would be any negative comment about Dr McGinity’s supporters exercising their democratic right to voice their concerns – either from Dr Sexton or more disturbingly, from the State Health Minister.

I believe a couple of key ‘messages’ have been conveyed by the actions of Dr McGinity’s supporters to date:

•Their sustained and very public support for Dr McGinity sends a powerful message of a community supporting a long-serving medical practitioner, who they trust and believe in.
•They are rightly objecting to the ‘process debacle’ that has characterised the treatment of their Doctor to date. Many of the actions taken by The Medical Council appear illogical from a policy perspective.

The point made by Yasmin Rawnsley in the Examiner (letters 25 June) is well made. There are clear divisions in the community, which is an unfortunate consequence of the Medical Council’s investigative process. There is a clear imperative, therefore, for the Medical Council to complete its investigations as soon as possible and in a way that affords Dr McGinity the procedural fairness he is entitled to. Protracted investigation has the potential to deepen community divisions, diminish trust in the Medical Council and potentially lead to demands for an Independent Review of this case. Lara Giddings and Jodie Campbell must act – and soon.

Andrew Nikolic