The General Medical Council has today penalised a number of doctors for appearances on television news programmes speculating over the possible health problems that led to the death of popular singer and dancer Michael Jackson.
In a written statement, Assistant Chief Medical Officer Keith Owen says that "none of these medical professionals had ever met Michael Jackson, let alone conducted any form of examination. It is entirely improper for them to have proffered a medical diagnosis on national television without any form of contact or expert knowledge of the subject of that diagnosis."
In the days that followed the death of the 'King of Pop' a seemingly endless parade of doctors appeared on news programmes listing the medical complaints that Jackson may have been suffering from, and the drugs that he may have been taking.
Doctor Hillary Jones is the highest profile of those that have been penalised. He claimed on ITV's This Morning that Michael Jackson was "probably suffering from a testicular blood pocket; he looked unnaturally pale and was constantly grabbing at his crotch while yelping in pain."
The GMC has stopped short of striking off Hillary Jones and others from the medical register, but it has revoked media licences that permit them to appear on television on behalf of the medical community.
