NHS surgeon Rahmeh Aladwan has been charged with multiple counts of inviting support for Hamas, the Metropolitan Police has confirmed, in a development that follows her suspension from medical practice last year over social media posts deemed to have shared support for violent action and terrorist organisations.
Aladwan, 31, a British Palestinian trainee trauma and orthopaedic surgeon, was suspended by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service for 15 months in November after the tribunal found her posts “may impact on patient confidence” and could discourage patients from seeking treatment from her. She has denied making racist or hateful comments, and her lawyer told the tribunal there was “no evidence” that any of the posts had affected patient safety or her ability to perform her clinical duties.
The criminal charges mark a significant escalation in the legal proceedings surrounding her case. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the charges without providing further detail on the specific posts or statements that form the basis of the prosecution.
The case has unfolded alongside a broader government push to reform how the medical regulator deals with racism and antisemitism among healthcare professionals. The Department of Health and Social Care has said there have been “too many” instances of doctors using racist language online without facing rapid disciplinary action. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said it was unacceptable that patients and staff did not feel protected and that the situation “would not be allowed to persist.”
Labour peer Lord Mann, tasked with conducting a rapid review of racism within the health service, criticised the existing framework as “too slow and too cumbersome” and is expected to publish his recommendations shortly. The Government has launched a consultation on sweeping reforms to the General Medical Council that could result in more practitioners losing their licences over racist and antisemitic social media posts.
GMC chief executive Charlie Massey said the proposed reforms would allow the regulator to “respond more quickly and flexibly when patient safety is at risk” and described the consultation as “an important and long-awaited step towards a more responsive and compassionate approach to healthcare regulation.”
Aladwan is expected to face further proceedings in connection with the criminal charges. The case is being closely watched given its implications for both freedom of expression in professional contexts and the broader efforts to tackle antisemitism and racism within the NHS.
