An NHS doctor predicts that the issuance of “fit to do things” letters by GPs may soon cease following a case where a student suffered a broken neck during a skydiving activity despite being cleared by her physician. Dr. Tim Mercer expressed concerns about the repercussions of the incident involving Miriam Barker, who is pursuing a £15 million compensation claim.
Miriam Barker, a 21-year-old student at Southampton University, was permitted to participate in a skydiving event after obtaining approval. Unfortunately, despite her parachute opening correctly during the jump in Devon, she sustained a severe spinal cord injury upon landing.
Dr. Mercer shared his views in a TikTok video, indicating a shift in his stance on providing such letters in the future. He emphasized his reluctance to assess individuals’ fitness for potentially risky activities like skydiving, scuba diving with sharks, or mountain climbing.
The doctor highlighted the case of Miriam Barker, who obtained a fitness letter for £30, and is now seeking substantial compensation due to her injuries. Dr. Mercer suggested that this incident could set a precedent, leading to a reluctance among GPs to issue similar documents in the future.
Dr. Mercer proposed a model similar to the DVLA’s approach, where specially trained assessors make decisions based on medical evidence rather than GPs providing explicit endorsements for certain activities. He questioned the validity of individuals being deemed fit for an activity based solely on a GP’s approval.
In conclusion, Dr. Mercer emphasized the potential legal risks for doctors in issuing such letters and suggested that the era of signing off on fitness letters may be over. He questioned the rationale behind risking legal liabilities for a nominal fee when doctors could instead focus on providing essential medical services to those in need.
NHS England has been called upon for comment.