http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/323/7324/1309/a

 

BMJ 2001;323:1309 ( 1 December )

Letters

Doctors seem not to be punished for dishonesty in their cv

EDITOR---Minerva reports that one in three men and one in five women lied in their curriculum vitae.1 Anybody who has sat on an appointments committee will be aware that candidates often exaggerate. Part of this is self deception, but genuine dishonesty occurs too. One doctor claimed on his curriculum vitae to be the author of publications by another doctor who had the same surname and the same initial of his first name.

A candidate for the post of senior lecturer in a medical specialty falsely claimed to have an MD degree. The appointment would have been difficult to justify if he did not have a higher research degree. The institution later discovered the truth but did not sack him. Allegedly, managers found that other senior doctors in the institution had also claimed qualifications that they had not been awarded. The hospital sent a memo to consultants advising them not to do this.

I informed the General Medical Council, which notified me of the outcome more than two years later. Much of the delay was due to the failure of the institution to cooperate with the council's investigation. The council noted that the doctor maintained that his reference to qualifications that he did not hold was a clerical error. He claimed that he did not read the curriculum vitae typed for him by another. Would any sensible person believe that?

The council noted that the matter had been dealt with by the hospital, although the only sanction was a reprimand from the dean of the institution. An officer of the council also advised: "Notwithstanding the fact that the members (who screened the case) have decided not to progress this case by referring it to the preliminary proceedings committee, they wish me to relay their extreme concern over the matters that have been laid before them."

I understand from an officer of the GMC that a reprimand of this sort is the usual sanction from the council for claiming false qualifications. When I pointed out that the use of the word "usual" implied that this type of dishonesty by doctors is common I was told that it is.

If the potential gains from dishonesty are high and there is no deterrent punishment from employers or the GMC if one is caught is it any wonder that some doctors will lie on their curricula vitae?

Peter Wilmshurst, consultant cardiologist. 
Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, Shrewsbury SY3 8XQ peter.wilmshurst@mail.rsh-tr.wmids.nhs.uk


1.

Minerva. BMJ 2001; 323: 408[Full Text]. (18 August.)

© BMJ 2001

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Depends upon what qualifications you're dishonest about

Richard Wakeford, University Staff Development Officer , University of Cambridge, CB2 1QA

bmj.com, 30 Nov 2001 [Response]

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MINERVA
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BMJ 2001 323: 408. [Full text]  


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