One of the world’s most eminent paediatricians yesterday urged his colleagues not to be cowed after he was found guilty of serious professional misconduct for accusing a father of killing his two babies on the basis of a television programme. David Southall, known internationally for his research that exposed parental child abuse, was condemned by the General Medical Council for “inappropriate and irresponsible” actions, which it said were an abuse of his position. The 56-year-old consultant paediatrician from North Staffordshire general hospital escaped being struck off the medical register, partly because so many of his peers came forward to commend his methods, but was banned for three years from carrying out all child protection work. Mothers who claim he wrongly accused them of abuse during his 30-year career pursued him as he left the Manchester hearing yesterday, shouting “not good enough”. But Professor Southall could yet be struck off the register: he faces another GMC hearing in January, when seven sets of parents will say he wrongly accused them of abuse…

The Guardian