A PROFESSIONAL doctors’ group said today that it is “extremely concerned” about the number of colleagues committing suicide while under a workplace investigation.

The warning from the Doctors’ Association UK came after a report from the General Medical Council found that between 2018 and 2020 29 doctors died during its probes into their conduct.

Twenty died of natural causes, but five took their own lives. 

The association recognised the process can inevitably damage the physical and mental wellbeing of those involved, but stressed investigations must be completed as “swiftly as due diligence and thoroughness will allow.”

Cases can often exceed two years, it highlighted, leaving people out of work and overseas workers at risk of their visas expiring. 

The body’s chair Dr Jenny Vaughan said: “Investigations have to be thorough — but so does the need to ensure the psychological wellbeing of the doctor under investigation.

“The tragedy of someone taking their own life is a devastating event and must be avoided.”

She urged Tory ministers to reform the council’s fitness to practice procedures “as a top priority.”