We are concerned that Dr Waney Squier, perhaps Britain’s foremost scientist in the field of paediatric neuropathology, who has been a consultant at the John Radcliffe hospital for 32 years, was struck off the medical register by a General Medical Council panel on Monday, based on her testimony in so-called shaken baby syndrome (SBS) cases (Report, theguardian.com, 21 March). She was accused of various things, including showing too little respect for the views of her peers.
Every generation has its quasi-religious orthodoxies, and if there is one certainty in history it is that many beliefs that were firmly held yesterday will become the object of knowing ridicule tomorrow. Whether this will be the fate of SBS, time will tell. However, the case of Dr Squier follows another troubling pattern where the authorities inflict harsh punishment on those who fail to toe the establishment line.
It is a sad day for science when a 21st-century inquisition denies one doctor the freedom to question “mainstream” beliefs. It is a particularly sad day for the parent or carer who ends up on the wrong end of another doctor’s “diagnosis” that an infant was shaken, when the child may have died from entirely different, natural causes.
Michael Mansfield QC, London
Clive Stafford Smith Human rights lawyer, London
Dr Thomas L Bohan President, Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board; President, American Academy of Forensic Sciences, 2009-10
Dr Harry J. Bonnell Forensic pathologist, California
Dr Lina Davidsson Stockholm
Keith A Findley Co-director, Wisconsin Innocence Project
Dr Steven C. Gabaeff Diplomat Emeritus, American Board of Emergency Medicine (1983-2014)
Dr Jennian Geddes Retired reader in clinical neuropathology, Queen Mary, University of London
David B Hirsch Lawyer, New Hampshire
Dr Zhongxue Hua Forensic pathologist and neuropathologist, New York
Charles J Hyman Retired clinical professor of pediatrics, California
Katherine Judson Shaken baby syndrome litigation coordinator, Wisconsin Innocence Project
Dr Patrick E Lantz Winston Salem, North Carolina
David J. Lansner Lawyer, New York
Anya Lewis Barrister, London
Dr Marvin Miller Professor of pediatrics, ob/gyn; affiliated professor of biomedical engineering, Dayton, Ohio
Dr John Plunkett Diplomate, American Board of Pathology
Dr Miguel Reyes-Múgica Marjory K Harmer Endowed Chair in Pediatric Pathology, Pennsylvania
Dr Irene Scheimberg Consultant paediatric pathologist, London
Dr Joseph Scheller Child neurologist, Maryland
Carrie Sperling Co-Director, Wisconsin Innocence Project
Peter Wilcox QC, London
Dr Edward N Willey Florida
Jenny Wiltshire Managing Partner, Hickman & Rose, London
Dr RK Wright Forensic pathologist, Florida