Antisemitic rhetoric among NHS medics sparks patient fear, report says

A disturbing trend of antisemitic rhetoric and conspiracy theories is emerging among some medical professionals within the UK's National Health Service (NHS), leading to fear and distress among Jewish patients and staff, according to a report by the Daily Mail.

Incidents detailed include an Oxford-educated pediatrician who designed a controversial "Palestine poppy" for sale on eBay, with profits intended for Gaza charities. The doctor, identified as Abdul Qader Ismail, has also promoted anti-Semitic conspiracy theories about Israelis "harvesting Palestinian organs" and described Hamas's October 7 attacks as legal "armed resistance." His online presence, which included books for teenagers, has since been largely removed.

Other cases highlighted involve an NHS consultant and senior trauma surgeon at a major London hospital who spread conspiracy theories, including claims that Jews celebrated the 9/11 attacks and shared an image of Jewish men celebrating in front of the Twin Towers. This surgeon also posted that it was "great news" when rockets hit Israel and prayed for Palestinian rockets to find their targets. Another NHS pediatrician, responsible for child protection in north London, was suspended after describing Hamas as "oppressed resistance fighters, NOT terrorists" and repeatedly posting about "Jewish supremacy."

An Iraq-born surgeon working in north London is accused of sharing anti-Semitic conspiracy theories online, including claims that the Israeli military killed most Jewish victims on October 7 and that Mossad was behind the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and the 9/11 attacks. This surgeon also reposted videos alleging that Jews orchestrate the rape of children by U.S. politicians for blackmail by Mossad.

These accounts follow previous high-profile cases, such as Dr. Rahmeh Aladwan, who was initially allowed to continue working for the NHS despite making an offensive gesture at Jewish protesters and posting anti-Semitic material online. She was later barred from practicing for 15 months and faces trial in 2027 for allegedly supporting Hamas on social media.

Jewish patients have reportedly experienced hostility, with one cancer patient subjected to a tirade about Israeli actions while undergoing surgery for a biopsy. The patient, Saul Freeman, recounted the surgeon stating, "The Jews. They should know better" in response to discussions about Gaza. Freeman described feeling like a "prisoner of circumstance" during the procedure.

Another incident involved a nurse, Shelley Lipman, who reported being given a "Nazi salute" by a colleague shortly after discussing her Jewish heritage at an NHS hospital in Cambridge. The colleague reportedly made the gesture next to a patient's bed.

Campaigners and some medical professionals accuse the General Medical Council (GMC), the UK's medical regulator, of not adequately addressing these issues. A documentary compiled by the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) featured footage suggesting a GMC adviser stated the regulator was more likely to close complaints regarding anti-Semitism than others and had not adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism.

A Jewish NHS surgeon, speaking anonymously, stated that Islamophobia is currently the GMC's priority, allowing some to dismiss anti-Semitic comments as freedom of speech. This can lead to patients being afraid of their doctors, with some requesting local anesthesia over general anesthesia due to fear of prejudice.

While the Department of Health and Social Care has emphasized its commitment to rooting out racism and expects the GMC to take action, the GMC maintains that anti-Semitism is unacceptable and that it investigates serious concerns. The regulator stated that approximately 19.5% of doctors facing complaints related to anti-Semitism have faced regulatory action, including erasure from the medical register, suspension, and warnings. Dr. Ismail remains on the medical register without current restrictions, though the GMC noted this does not preclude an ongoing investigation.

A Department of Health review released in the summer found that some Jewish staff experienced ostracism and considered leaving the NHS. Lord Mann, the government's independent adviser on anti-Semitism, called for the NHS to be an inclusive employer and recommended mandatory anti-Semitism training and restrictions on political symbols. However, the British Medical Association voted to oppose these recommendations, citing concerns about freedom of expression.