The medical staff harassed, bullied and threatened — by doctors
- Mark Hollingsworth
- Jan 26
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 10
During his monumental research into the life of President Lyndon Johnson, the biographer Robert Caro noticed a change in his political status in 1940 while reading through thousands of documents. At the time LBJ, then 32, was a raw inexperienced Co
Physician associates are being subjected to death threats, calls for acid attacks and malicious leaking of personal data on online doctors’ forums.
The medical professionals, who support doctors in the diagnosis and care of patients, have been the victims of a sustained online campaign of bullying and harassment as the “toxic debate” over their role within the health profession intensifies.
Lord Bethell, a former health minister, has referred to the police a list of the most “shocking offenders” and said he had himself become the target of an orchestrated digital hate campaign for arguing that physician associates (PAs) played a critical role in healthcare.
PAs help doctors by performing basic medical tasks such as preliminary examinations of patients, organising tests and collating medical records.
However, some medical professionals argue that PAs put patients at risk because they are being used to replace GPs and are not qualified to treat patients. Some junior doctors view the expanding role of PAs as a threat to their job security and career prospects, and Wes Streeting, the health secretary, has ordered a review of their use.
Tensions have increased online, where PAs face widespread harassment. On the forum site Reddit, personal details and medical rotas have been leaked, anonymous accusations spread and death threats issued.
The Times has discovered evidence of death threats against PAs on Reddit. In the online group Doctors UK, which has more than 45,000 members, one person wrote: “It’s like they [PAs] are under witness protection. We all know the adage ‘snitches get stitches’ but in this case the PAs get acid attacked in the hospital car park by would-be trainees seems more appropriate. It doesn’t have quite the same ring to it though. I guess time will tell.”
A recent post on X said: “At this point I don’t care if they all got shot dead. Innocent people should not be dying for egotistical clowns.”
One PA wrote online about how he was treated in the workspace, saying he had “been pushed aside during cardiac arrests, ignored by other teams and sniggered at by juniors … It’s amazing how titles and uniforms change your entire existence.”
This resulted in a barrage of vicious personal attacks and character assassinations on social media and X, which have since been deleted. An observer then posted a message suggesting that such comments could harm the PA’s mental health. “If he tops himself then he tops himself,” was the response.
Some PAs have had their names and addresses posted online, along with personal threats against them. JEFF MOORE/PA
One doctor named a PA, Emma Jenkinson, on X, which led to her home address being posted online and resulted in harassment.
Another PA said: “I have had my personal information and workplace leaked by several people online on multiple occasions with false accusations and defamation. Personal threats were also made to me by anonymous people. I was accused of lying about my role to my Facebook friends. They felt I was posing as a doctor. It took me a while to realise I had been falsely accused.
“This situation has ruined my work life and I had to take a week off sick for my mental health when I felt physically sick because I was terrified of being scapegoated or accused of negligence due to the vicious language used.”
One individual demanded on the social media group Doctors Vote that the names of PAs should be published. “Why are the names of PAs hidden?” the person asked. “Because PAs are perpetually sheltered from any potential negative feedback, even when they perform illegal acts,” replied another.
Bethell, who was a health minister in Boris Johnson’s government, passed a list of the most “egregious offenders” to the Metropolitan Police after receiving a letter from a PA describing bullying and intimidation.
“The introduction of PAs are undoubtedly complex but there is no excuse for the campaign of systematic bullying conducted by many doctors in the workplace and professional institutions,” he said.
Bethell said he had been criticised for saying that PAs had a critical role in healthcare: “My professionalism was castigated. My family was insulted. My education was scorned — scurrilous comments on my medical history. My integrity was dragged through the gutter.
“The things said about medical associates were unverifiable, scandalous, intimidating, professionally inappropriate, and designed to denigrate a respectable cadre to the point that it might be extinguished.
“The PAs are ritually humiliated on a routine basis to the point that mental health in their profession is an acute issue. Most have closed their social media accounts. They feel no one fights their corner. They are treated as pariahs. This is because of a concerted campaign to extinguish their role: selling false narratives about patient safety and making ad hominem attacks on individuals.”
Dr Shaun Meehan, a retired GP who tutors PAs, said the situation was rapidly getting out of control and that he was alarmed about “the appalling social media scapegoating of PAs nationally that my profession has direct responsibility for encouraging”. He said: “These doctors who post venom towards our colleagues should understand their words cause intense distress and damage our patients as directly as they damage their colleagues. I fear greatly for the mental health of our PAs.”
Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, said: “It’s completely unacceptable for any healthcare professional to face abuse — either from patients or colleagues — because of the job they do.
“The debate around physician associates working in the NHS has become incredibly highly charged and at times uncomfortable, particularly on social media. It is clear doctors, PAs, patients hold very strong views, but as a college we only ever encourage civil discussion and debate. Ultimately, what everyone wants is a properly and appropriately staffed NHS that delivers safe care for patients. Personal attacks have no place in ensuring this.”
Phil Banfield, chairman of the British Medical Association council, said: “We condemn personal attacks on social media. All NHS staff deserve respect.”
‘Orchestrated smear campaign’
When PAs tried to debate their role in the NHS, data about their personal lives was leaked as part of a smear campaign. The Hinge dating profile of Berkay Ulker, a PA since 2018, was shared and mocked on X by an anonymous account called “Dr Done”. When he replied to confront the bullying behaviour, he received an avalanche of accusations on social media.
“I was harassed and attacked online by doctors,” Ulker said. “I tried to engage professionally, clarify the role of PAs and address disinformation but it soon emerged this was an orchestrated smear campaign. They just all piled in with insults and falsehoods.”
Ulker then produced a profile about the role of PAs for his NHS trust, which was published online. “Sections of that profile were taken out of context and attacked,” he said. “Anyone who said anything positive about PAs were targeted and my profile was then removed. I then had to resign from X because my NHS profile was viewed by thousands who then piled in with derogatory comments. I was accused of fraud, lying and [told that] I should not be near children.
“This toxic situation is very upsetting. I help patients and children and I love this job but I am being portrayed as an uneducated charlatan and so it has made me think about resigning.”
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