Extract from transcript of David Southall's GMC Fitness to Practise Panel
Day 2, November 14 2006 (for full transcript click here)

“Mrs M” Cross-examined by Kieran Coonan QC on behalf of Dr Southall

Q These events took place in April 1998. Did you become aware of a woman called Mrs Mellor?

A Yes. I am, yes.

Q And did you make contact with Ms Mellor?

A Ms Mellor, no. She got in touch with me

Q She got in touch with you. So that we identify the correct person, she is called Penny Mellor, is she not?

A That is right, yes.

Q And I just want to establish one or two simple facts. Did she come to act as an advocate for you in relation to complaints relating to Dr Southall?

A She wanted to, yes.

Q Well, she did become an advocate for you, did she not?

A I did not ask her to write any complaint. She just said that she would act for me.

Q And however it came about – I am frankly not interested in that but I am just interested in the fact that she did adopt that mantle as advocate – she had done that at the latest by about 1999?

A I am not sure. I had no further contact with her after she got in touch with me. I had very little contact with her.

Q But if I suggested that date to you, you are not in a position to comment either way. Is that right?

A Yes. That is right, yes.

Q And just this. This woman is the coordinator of a campaign group, is she not?

A So I believe, yes.

Q And she campaigns against the very notion that there should be a diagnosis of Munchausen’s?

A I am sorry. Can you say that again, please.

Q She campaigns – her group, led by her – campaigns against the very notion of the existence of a diagnosis of Munchausen’s?

A Yes, I believe so.

Q And again, I do not want to be overly generalist about this, but perhaps I suggest this would do: that in that guise she has mounted campaigns against paediatricians who have been involved in diagnoses of Munchausen’s?

A I cannot comment on that. I do not know the woman or what she does really. I have had one conversation with her, and that was it.

Q Any correspondence?

A I cannot remember if I did or not.

Q But she introduced herself to you as, presumably, somebody and what her role was?

A She introduced me to herself, yes, but she was not clear on her role.

Q But at least you knew at that stage when she offered her services as an advocate for you, that she headed up an activist group. Is that right?

A I was not aware of it being an activist group. I am not sure what I thought, to be honest. I really do not. I cannot comment on that, I am sorry.