Key facts
- Survivors accuse the GMC of failing to investigate doctors allegedly complicit in Mohamed Al Fayed's sexual abuse.
- A 2017 complaint about Dr. Wendy Snell, who allegedly shared patient information with Fayed, was dismissed by the GMC.
- The GMC is now investigating other doctors accused of passing sexual health information to Fayed.
- Pelham Spong alleged Fayed assaulted her after a sexual health examination by Dr. Snell in 2008.
- Joan alleges rape by Salah Fayed after a sexual health examination by Dr. Ann Coxon in the 1990s.
- The GMC has imposed practice restrictions on Dr. Coxon and another doctor.
Survivors of Mohamed Al Fayed's alleged sexual abuse have accused the UK's medical regulator, the General Medical Council (GMC), of allowing the abuse to continue by refusing to investigate doctors accused of complicity. The GMC dismissed a 2017 request to scrutinize Dr. Wendy Snell, who allegedly subjected a woman to intrusive sexual health examinations and shared the results with Fayed.
Pelham Spong, who was 23 at the time, complained to the GMC in 2017 about Dr. Snell, a doctor employed by Fayed. Spong alleged that in 2008, Dr. Snell conducted sexual health tests on her as part of a job interview process for Fayed, and that Fayed forcibly kissed her the same day and questioned her about sexually transmitted diseases, despite assurances of confidentiality.
The GMC informed Spong that it was not in the "greater public interest" to investigate Dr. Snell and stated it had no powers to investigate whether the examination was appropriate for a recruitment process. Spong expressed shock at the GMC's inaction, stating that reporting trafficking to them in 2017 resulted in no investigation, allowing abusers to escape and leading to further harm.
Spong also reported her ordeal to the Metropolitan police in October 2017, who took no further action. Survivors are calling for a public inquiry into Fayed's crimes, including failures by the police and the GMC. Joan alleges she was raped in the 1990s by Fayed's brother, Salah Fayed, after a sexual health examination by Dr. Ann Coxon, who she claims shared her test results with Salah Fayed over the phone. Judith alleges she was groped by Mohamed Al Fayed after a sexual health examination by Dr. Snell after Fayed sold Harrods in 2010.
Dr. Coxon has previously denied carrying out sexual health tests on Harrods staff. The GMC has imposed restrictions on Dr. Coxon and another doctor pending a full investigation. Emma Jones, a solicitor representing several victims, criticized the GMC's delayed action, stating they should have reported serious allegations to the police earlier. A GMC spokesperson stated that the reports of abuse are horrifying and that they are investigating doctors employed by Al Fayed, remaining in contact with relevant authorities.