The Dr who works at Royal Stoke University Hospital, in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, could face being sacked over the incident (Picture: Getty)

A family GP’s career could be ‘ruined’ after asking a Muslim patient to remove her veil during an appointment.

Dr Keith Wolverson, 52, said he couldn’t hear the mother properly while she was explaining her child’s ailments and asked her to remove her niqab – which covers the face from the eyes down.

He claims she agreed to take it off and there was no issue during the appointment at the Royal Stoke University Hospital, in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

But the mother’s husband showed up half an hour later and complained to Dr Wolverson’s supervisors over the incident, reported The Sun, who raised his complaints with the General Medical Council.




The body is now set to investigate the GP over the alleged discrimination, after the family claimed the mother was left crying, having felt ‘victimised and racially discriminated against’.

He claims she took off her veil without issue but her husband complained to the GP’s bosses (Picture: Getty)

They claim the doctor gave her a ‘dirty look’ and said he wouldn’t continue the consultation if she didn’t remove it, after she protested saying she didn’t want to due to her religious beliefs.

Dr Wolverson could now be struck off over the incident and said it’ll ‘ruin me’.

The doctor, who has been in the medical industry for 23 years, said it was ‘outrageous’ and insisted he was ‘just trying to do my job properly’.

Dr Wolverson told The Sun: ‘I found it difficult to understand what the woman was saying behind her veil, so politely asked her to remove it.

‘I needed to hear what was wrong with her daughter, so I could offer the safest possible care.

‘I’m not racist. This is nothing to do with race, religion or skin colour – it’s about clarity of communication.’

The patient claims she felt racially discriminated against (Picture: Getty)

The GP added he’s asked other Muslim patients the same request and said he’s never had an issue before.

He said that ‘many do it as a courtesy’ when they enter the consulting room.

The GMC says medical professionals who wear a veil must remove it if a patient finds it an ‘obstacle’ to communication but no advice is offered to doctors who find themselves in the reverse situation with a patient.

The Doctors’ Association UK has been calling on the GMC for clarity on this matter, as they say it’s something which has concerned the medical profession.

A spokesperson told Metro.co.uk: ‘It is of utmost importance that the religious wishes of our patients are respected. However, evidently there are some circumstances where removal of a niqab or burka is necessary for medical assessment and treatment.

‘Regardless of whether this complaint is upheld, the General Medical Council should consider issuing clear guidelines to protect both doctors, and our patients.’

Mohammed Shafiq, of the Ramadhan Foundation, pointed out that the GP could’ve asked a female member of staff to assist him, in a bid to make the patient feel more comfortable.



The activist told the news site the GP should be sent on a diversity awareness course and although his request was ‘offensive’, any ‘stronger’ action would be a ‘shame’.

Joyce Robins, from Patient Concern, told The Sun losing a doctor over the issue would be ‘criminal’.

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