[nursebedlam]

Doctor tells of race abuse

May 18 2004

A gynaecologist claimed he was forced to resign from a hospital after being subjected to racial abuse.

Dr Ami Banerji told a Birmingham employment tribunal he received “hostile and aggressive” treatment from white midwives and a nurse at the George Eliot Hospital, in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

The 44-year-old, from Metchley Park Road, Edgbaston, claims he was left with no choice but to resign and suffered unfair and constructive dismissal due to racial discrimination.

He also claimed that because he did not like some of the practices going on in his department, and resisted “cutting corners and taking unacceptable risks”, he was victimised.

Dr Banerji, who has 16 years experience in gynaecology, joined the hospital on February 1, 2002.

He said he was singled out for abuse by four midwives and a staff nurse who were all white.

“They were extremely hostile and aggressive to me. They spoke to me as if I was the servant and they were the masters,” he said.

“I felt I was being racially discriminated against. Due to the trust not hearing my complaint of race discrimination fairly and effectively I felt I had no choice but to resign. It became unbearable for me.”

He claimed they refused to call him either Dr Banerji or by his first name, insisting on referring to him as ‘Banerji’.

“They showed me no respect, I felt so humiliated and degraded. I felt my existence had no meaning,” he said.

The doctor said when he complained to the consultant, he was advised to keep his head down or resign. He said he refused when asked to examine a female patient without a female chaperone present and also told the hearing how he observed sick patients in the ward being ignored.

“Despite me telling a consultant there was a very sick patient in the ward he went home,” he added. “I became frightened and scared to work.”

The hearing continues.

http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/...name_page.html