Are you suggesting that he is not a certified doctor? ie that he shouldn't be called "Dr." Shepherd? - do you have evidence of that?
(I got an email from a rather prominent member of the UK ME/CFS Community who felt this comment was unfair...if its true then fine ...if its not then please lets not spread rumors....)
I don't do rumours, Cort.
This is what I wrote:
It has always been my understanding that Dr Shepherd did not complete his training to qualify for GP status.
Dr Shepherd holds a medical qualification - an MB BS London.
Post qualification, he worked in several NHS hospitals.
By his own account, in his publication "Living with ME", published in 1999, he contracted chicken pox from a hospital patient following which he developed an encephalitis type condition.
It is understood that he went on to start the training to gain the GP certificate. The GP certificate is necessary in the UK in order to practice as a General Practitioner.
But that he did not complete the training period and therefore, did not gain the GP certificate. Without the certificate he would not be permitted to practice within the NHS as a General Practitioner.
Dr Shepherd is registered with the GMC and you can check his registration, yourself. (Charles Bernard Shepherd).
He is listed as:
2223029 Charles Bernard Shepherd Man Registered with a licence to practise 1975
Primary Medical Qualification: MB BS 1975 University of London
Provisional Registration Date 13 Jan 1975
Full Registration Date 27 Sep 1976
Specialist Register entry date This doctor is not on the Specialist Register
GP Register entry date This doctor is not on the GP Register
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What needs to be understood is that in the UK, post qualification, you can work as a medic within hospitals, from the lowest rung as a house officer, SHO through to senior registrar, specialist, consultant, or specialise in surgery, without having done the training period to qualify for the GP certificate, which would license a medical practitioner to work within the community in General Practice as a General Practitioner.
I hope this clarifies.
Suzy