UK Doctor Faces Disciplinary Tribunal Over Controversial Tweets

A senior paediatrician from London has been referred to a disciplinary tribunal by the General Medical Council (GMC) following a series of controversial social media posts. Dr. Ellen Kriesels, a consultant at the Whittington Hospital, has openly expressed her support for Hamas and made disparaging remarks about the Jewish community.

Dr. Kriesels has been active on social media, where she has shared her views multiple times. In one of her posts from August, she stated, “Some Jews… say [October 7] was a pogrom… Other Jews… say that it was antisemitic.” She criticized what she perceives as a tendency among Jews to portray themselves as victims.

In her comments regarding civilian casualties in Gaza, she differentiated between “non-civilians” and other Palestinians, asserting, “The non-civilians [being killed in Gaza] are Hamas… they should not have been killed either.” Her assertion that Hamas members are “political party and oppressed resistance fighters” rather than terrorists has drawn significant backlash.

Allegations of Discrimination

Dr. Kriesels has also made sweeping claims about the Jewish community, suggesting that many adhere to an ideology she describes as “Jewish supremacy.” She stated, “Jewish supremacy is the ideology at the root of all this evil,” a claim she attributes to both religious and secular Jewish individuals.

In addition to her online activity, Dr. Kriesels has participated in several pro-Palestinian protests. Notably, she was photographed holding an Israeli flag with the phrase, “Rape, steal, cry, kill, cheat, lie.”

In October, reports indicated that Dr. Kriesels was suspended from her role at Whittington Hospital. She is set to attend a tribunal hearing on November 14, 2023, where it will be determined whether she can continue her medical practice.

A spokesperson for the Whittington NHS Health Trust commented on the situation, stating, “We can confirm that we have heard the concerns raised about one of our employees. The employee concerned is not currently scheduled to be working at the Trust.” The spokesperson emphasized, “There is no place at Whittington Health for any form of discrimination,” and noted that personal opinions expressed by employees do not reflect the Trust’s views.

The GMC has announced that it will not provide details regarding the upcoming tribunal. Efforts to obtain a comment from Dr. Kriesels have not yet been successful.

As this situation develops, it highlights ongoing tensions surrounding discussions of anti-Semitism and political expression in medical and public service roles. The implications of this case could resonate widely, not only within the medical community but also across society at large.