Ben Fordham fights to save career of GP pushed out of work because of his age
Radio host Ben Fordham and his army of listeners have saved the career of an esteemed Sydney doctor who was being targeted because he didn’t use a computer at work.
Confidential
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Good ol’ fashion people power, mobilised through Ben Fordham’s radio breakfast program, has saved the career of Sydney General Practitioner Dr Peter Brown.
In June the 69-year-old Dr Brown, who has been working for 40 years, was forced to shut down his Surry Hills practice because of an investigation by the Medical Council of NSW.
The concern was that Dr Brown was operating a “solo, non computerised practice” and didn’t have a receptionist. It’s also been reported the council questioned the GP’s age and old school record keeping practices.
The Medical Council imposed strict conditions on him, insisting he be supervised and have a limit on the number of patients he could see.
However after some of Dr Brown’s 2700 patients called up Fordham’s 2GB radio program, a passionate campaign was launched to allow the GP to get back to work with no provisions or restrictions.
“The minute we mentioned this case on radio, the phone lines lit up which shows the standing Dr Brown has in the community,” Fordham told The Daily Telegraph.
“There is no doubt this is about age and it’s scary to think you can be pushed out of a job at 69 years of age. Trump is 74, Joe Biden is 77, The Queen is 94 and they are all doing their jobs. So I found the fact that Dr. Brown couldn’t do his at 69 ridiculous.”
“Especially at a time when we need top doctors and top health care professionals to help us fight COVID-19. Dr Brown is a legend of medicine and should be put on a pedestal, not have his passion taken from him. ”
Dr Brown told The Daily Telegraph it’s been “great” to be back at work again. Especially considering 25 per cent of his patients are disadvantaged and had no other health professional to turn to. “It’s been really stressful for my family,” he said. “It’s been unbelievably amazing that people have stood up and said we don’t want this to happen.”
Dr. Brown’s lawyer Anthony Jefferies said the result was tremendous. “Dr Brown has been practising for 39 years and there has never been a complaint. This is a fantastic example, through community advocacy and tremendous help from people like Ben Fordham, to protect someone who is a Surry Hills Legend. He’s a true and great Australian,” he said. “I’m really proud of him that he’s stood up for his rights.”