ACTION ALERT: Demand Accountability for Dehumanising Comments Against Palestinians.

Subject: Child Psychiatrists Dehumanising Social Media Posts – Urgent Action Needed.

A practicing British child psychiatrist, Dr Girish Vaidya, has posted deeply offensive and dehumanising comments on social media targeting Palestinians. These posts minimise their suffering and uses derogatory language, contradicting the ethical principles of mental health professionals. A limited amount of screenshots have been taken for record purposes, as Dr Girish Vaidya has since made his profile private & posts can no longer be seen by the wider public.

Why This Matters:
◦ Ethical Violation: Mental health professionals have a duty to uphold the dignity and well-being of all human beings, regardless of background.
◦ Harmful Impact: dehumanising language fuels prejudice and contributes to a climate of discrimination and potential violence.
◦ Compromised Care: Such biases can severely compromise the psychiatrists ability to provide impartial and effective care.
◦ Public Trust: This incident erodes public trust in the mental health profession.

What We Are Demanding:

◦ A thorough investigation: We demand a transparent and thorough investigation by the psychiatrists employer, the children’s hospital, and relevant professional bodies.
◦ Disciplinary Action: We call for appropriate disciplinary action, including potential suspension or termination, depending on the investigation’s findings.
◦ Public Apology: We demand a public apology from the psychiatrist for the harm caused by their comments.
◦ Cultural Competency Training: We urge professional organisations to mandate comprehensive cultural competency training for all mental health professionals, focusing on the impact of bias and the importance of ethical conduct in the digital age.

MPACUK Support:

Support the investigation by MPACUK, and amplify our findings.

How You Can Take Action:
* Contact the Sheffield Children’s Hospital: scn-tr.complaints@nhs.net
* Express your concern about the psychiatrist’s comments and demand accountability.
* Respectfully request updates on the investigation.
* Contact Professional Organisations (GMC) : https://www.gmc-uk.org/concerns/supporting-you-with-your-concern
* File a formal complaint and demand action.
* Amplify on Social Media:
* Share this action alert and raise awareness using relevant hashtags.
* Tag the hospital, professional organisations, and media outlets.
* Share MPACUK’s posts and updates.
* Follow MPACUK on social media

Sample Message:

“I am deeply concerned about the dehumanising social media posts made by Dr Girish Vaidya at Sheffield Children’s Hospital targeting Palestinians. I urge you to conduct a thorough investigation and take appropriate disciplinary action. Such language is unacceptable and violates the ethical principles of your profession. As a parent I do not feel safe having such a doctor within the vicinity of children, as Muslims we feel deeply unsafe with a member of staff having such views. When doctors and nurses are being dismissed for simply wearing badges of support for Palestine, I do not understand why you would not take the appropriate action against a member of staff for expressing such views openly.”

Let’s stand together to demand accountability and protect the well-being of all children.