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The MSG is urging the States to back plans to formally reprimand Deputy Gavin St Pier after he breached their Code of Conduct in naming a consultant paediatrician while making "misleading statements" about her.
During this week's States meeting, which got underway this morning, deputies will be asked to consider a Report by the Guernsey Appeals Commissioner which upheld a previous decision that found he had breached the Code when he named Dr Sandie Bohin during a speech relating to the regulation and appraisal of medical professionals in April 2022.
The former Chief Minister's political colleagues had already found him not guilty of breaching parliamentary privilege during that same speech.
Having exhausted all his avenues of appeal, Deputy St Pier now faces a formal reprimand for the Code breaches following complaints lodged by Dr Bohin, the Medical Specialist Group, and the Guernsey and Alderney branch of the British Medical Association.
The States are expected to debate the matter tomorrow.
Pictured: The States of Deliberation will be asked to agree that Deputy Gavin St Pier be formally reprimanded pursuant to the Code of Conduct for Members.
Deputy St Pier said he would not comment before the debate when recently contacted by Express.
The MSG however did comment, with its Chair calling on deputies to back the Commissioner’s recommendation of a formal reprimand for Deputy St Pier.
"We are relieved to see that the Appeal Commissioner’s report, which supports the Code of Conduct panel’s original findings in April 2023 of six serious breaches of the code by Deputy St Pier, is going to the States," said Dr Steve Evans.
"We are asking Deputies to back Mr Jelley’s recommendation that Deputy St Pier be formally reprimanded.
"The Commissioner’s report completely justifies the reasons that we brought the Code of Conduct complaint in the first place.
"Deputy St Pier’s conduct was grossly and manifestly unfair to our consultant paediatrician Dr Sandie Bohin. By naming her in the States on 27 April 2022 and by making misleading statements, he caused devastating and unjustified harm to her reputation. He did this knowing that she had no right of reply.
"His actions actually jeopardized safeguarding in the Bailiwick as they caused professionals involved in child protection to be fearful of political intervention and receiving similar treatment to Dr Bohin.
"This is not about preventing complaints about a doctor’s performance being investigated and acted on. As doctors we are all bound by a professional code of conduct from the GMC. Islanders rightly demand high standards and if we make mistakes professionally we expect to be held to account.
"However there were multiple independent investigations into complaints by Deputy St Pier and none found any evidence of wrongdoing or malpractice to substantiate the allegations he made.
"What this is about is protecting medical professionals, and others, from the risk of being publicly shamed in the States, with no right of reply when they have done nothing wrong."
The report upholding Deputy St Pier's code of conduct breach can be read in full HERE.
St Pier conduct appeal could be considered by a public standards commissioner
Three Code of Conduct complaints lodged against Deputy St Pier
St Pier remains quietly confident over code complaints
Calls to curb 'parliamentary privilege'
St Pier cleared of abuse of privilege
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