Birmingham doctor could be struck off after taking part in Just Stop Oil protest

A Birmingham doctor is fighting against being struck off the medical register after she took part in a Just Stop Oil protest. Dr Sarah Benn faces a medical hearing which will decide if she can maintain her licence to practise medicine.

She was jailed for 31 days for contempt of court after breaching an injunction not to demonstrate outside Kingsbury Oil Terminal in Warwickshire in 2022. She had been arrested on three different occasions at the protest, which was described by the campaigning group as a "peaceful demonstration demanding the government to bring an end to new fossil fuel projects."

The GP said she informed the General Medical Council and her employer after each arrest. She said her actions were consistent with medical ethics, which prioritise patient and public safety. "As a doctor, my fundamental duty is to protect health and life," said Dr Benn, 57.

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"This includes proactive efforts to prevent disease and death. The climate crisis is the most significant existential threat to global health we have ever faced. It's disheartening to see governments worldwide declare climate emergencies, yet fail to act beyond these declarations. In medicine, when an emergency is declared, immediate action is expected—not just words.

"This is the essence of our job, and it's often a daunting responsibility, but it is essential. This is why I felt compelled to address what I see as the most critical health crisis currently unfolding—one that is already causing widespread death, disease, and destruction globally and is set to worsen.

"We're trained as doctors to intervene decisively to avert tragedy, therefore, this situation requires nothing less than decisive intervention. The protests and disruptions I've participated in are not actions I take lightly. I find no joy in causing inconvenience or distress."

Ahead of the hearing in Manchester, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service said: "The tribunal will inquire into the allegation that on April 26, 2022, May 4, 2022, and September 14, 2022, Dr Benn engaged in peaceful protests within a prohibited buffer zone at Kingsbury Oil Terminal in breach of an interim injunction granted on April 14, 2022. It is alleged that Dr Benn’s actions amounted to contempt of court and resulted in a custodial sentence."

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