Dr David Cartland Struck Off After 17 Proven Misconduct Allegations

By James Murray-Hodcroft | The Hodlines
Published: 26th June 2025

Dr David Cartland has been struck off the UK medical register following a damning ruling by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS), which found him guilty of misconduct on 17 separate counts, each deemed to impair his fitness to practise.

The decision, handed down at 10:00 today, follows months of legal proceedings and widespread public scrutiny.

In a previous hearing, tribunal Chair Claire Lindley (LQC) told the hearing that Dr Cartland’s actions amounted to a “deliberate and sustained abuse of his professional status, incompatible with continued registration.”

Dr Cartland’s fitness to practice is currently impaired”

Cartland, a Cornwall-based doctor turned online conspiracy figure, was found to have harassed fellow medics, incited abuse, and shared medical exemptions under questionable circumstances. The tribunal dismissed his long-standing claim that the case was “about his beliefs,” concluding instead that his conduct, not his views, was at the heart of the matter.

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Misconduct Allegations Upheld on All Counts

The MPTS panel ruled that all 17 allegations brought by the General Medical Council (GMC) were proved. These include:

• Publicly accusing named doctors of paedophilia and corruption without evidence
• Inciting harassment of colleagues through his social media accounts
• Breaching confidentiality by publishing or threatening to publish details of complaints and witnesses
• Describing the GMC as a “kangaroo court” and encouraging his followers to undermine tribunal proceedings
• Issuing or agreeing to issue a vaccine exemption certificate under misleading circumstances
• Using demeaning, aggressive, and mocking language in reference to complainants
• Failing to engage constructively with the regulatory process

Not one of the proven allegations related to Dr Cartland’s anti-vaccine stance, despite his frequent public assertions that the case was a targeted attack on his free speech.

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Tribunal Dismisses Free Speech Defence

On Tuesday 24th June in, what was expected to be, the final hearing, Mr Paul Moran, solicitor for the GMC, argued throughout the final stages that Cartland had repeatedly misrepresented the nature of the proceedings, leading followers to believe he was being persecuted for “holding different views.”

This is not about his views,” Moran said. “This is about harassment, incitement, and professional misconduct.”

Moran cited tweets in which Cartland called the GMC “crooked” and posted inflammatory remarks including “Karma’s a bitch,” tagging complainants directly. One particularly disturbing example showed Cartland referencing the death of actor Ewen MacIntosh, tweeting, “Some karma being dealt out” alongside a screenshot of MacIntosh defending vaccines.

Despite his barrister Paul Diamond describing Cartland as “a man with a big mouth” who had “got it wrong,” the tribunal was unpersuaded that remorse had been shown. Moran said Cartland’s persistent posting and lack of self-censorship demonstrated “a total disregard for public safety and professional boundaries.”

Mr Diamond attempted to downplay the harm caused, suggesting that in some cases the complainants were unaware of the harassment until it was flagged to them.

Some of the time the complainants would not have even known about the harassment,” Diamond said, noting that Ms A, for instance, only became aware when she received an anonymous package through the post.

The panel, however, found that such revelations underscored the disturbing reach and intent of Cartland’s behaviour, not its harmlessness.

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Ignored Warnings and Public Retractions

Dr Cartland’s conduct extended beyond the tribunal room. In a pinned tweet dated April 2024, he publicly apologised to TV doctor Dr Ranj Singh, admitting that earlier claims of paedophilia were “wholly untrue” and “without basis.” He agreed to cover legal costs and donate to a charity of Singh’s choice.

I sincerely apologise to Dr Singh for the harm and upset I have caused,” the post read.

Dr Roddy Neilson, a fellow medical professional, revealed in June 2025 that he had privately advised Cartland to disengage from social media and cooperate with the GMC.

My advice was to stop posting and engage constructively,” he said. “That advice appears not to have been taken.”

In response, Cartland claimed to have been “blackmailed” and “oppressed,” doubling down on his belief that he was being “lawfared” into silence.

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Defence Arguments Fall Flat

Cartland’s legal team, led by Paul Diamond, invoked Article 10 of the Human Rights Act, arguing the doctor had a right to express his views. Diamond likened his client to whistleblowers in the 1980s blood scandal, saying:

It took 40 years for the truth to come to light.” 

However, Chair Claire Lindley reminded the panel that the Human Rights Act does not protect conduct which endangers others or undermines professional obligations.

She further noted that “a large number of findings of not-serious misconduct” could collectively form a pattern significant enough to warrant erasure.

In a last-minute attempt to avoid being struck off, Dr Cartland offered—at the eleventh hour—to retract all of his social media posts and undergo “social media training.” The panel acknowledged the proposal but noted that it came far too late in the process and lacked the credibility or consistency to warrant leniency.

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Commentary and Consequences

Dr Cartland had built a large online following, often leveraging it to criticise institutions, attack colleagues, and crowdsource sympathy. However, this same audience was repeatedly used to discredit the tribunal process, harass witnesses, and spread misinformation.

The tribunal confirmed that several witness statements submitted in his defence were ruled inadmissible, not out of bias, but because they responded to accusations that were never part of the case. This misrepresentation, the GMC argued, was the result of Cartland encouraging the false belief that his views were being prosecuted, rather than his actions.

This morning’s strike-off is expected to bring both relief to those he targeted, and intensified rhetoric from his supporters. But the ruling sends a strong message: harassment, incitement, and misconduct will not be shielded by cries of free speech.

In its official ruling, the panel concluded:

“Dr Cartland has demonstrated a deep-seated attitudinal problem. He has persistently failed to recognise the inappropriateness of his behaviour and the impact it had on others. He has sought to justify his actions and, at times, shifted blame to others. The Tribunal is of the view that Dr Cartland has failed to demonstrate any real insight into his misconduct, nor has he taken steps to remediate his behaviour.”

The panel warned that this lack of insight, combined with a continued refusal to acknowledge wrongdoing, posed an ongoing risk to public confidence in the profession.

Reconvening today, at 09:35, Mrs Lindley said:

The conduct is so serious, it is incompatible with continued registration”

All that is left for the panel to decide now is whether the erasure is immediate, or will take effect at the end of the appeals period.

How do you feel about the MPTS decision? Share your thoughts below.