Suspension pending inquiries: an English medical phenomenon?

The suspension of doctors in the National Health Service by health authorities, often for long periods for what appear to be trivial reasons, while inquiries into allegations are pending seems to have become an increasing problem in the United Kingdom. In some cases the hearing has been conducted years after the suspension. This situation caused the Society of Clinical Psychiatrists to establish a study group with the aim of producing a fact-finding report into what appeared to be a growing abuse of procedures. This article presents a summary of the study group's findings and the lessons to be learned from this disturbing bureaucratic phenomenon.