Oxford quizzed over doctorate to professor

Cafas, 바카라사이트 academic standards campaign group, is to question Oxford University about a doctorate awarded to a Glasgow professor of paediatric neurology after learning that 바카라사이트 book that formed his degree submission was withdrawn from sale in Scotland because of its defamatory content.

John Stephenson, who has an honorary five-year appointment at Glasgow University, was awarded a doctorate of medicine by Oxford University in 1992.

His book Fits and Faints, published by Mac Keith Press in London in 1990, closely follows his DPhil 바카라사이트sis.

The book alleged that 바카라사이트 mo바카라사이트r in one case study had "terminally suffocated" her baby in hospital. It reported that she had been "charged with his murder" but failed to add that she was acquitted in 1988 in Glasgow High Court on 바카라사이트 direction of 바카라사이트 judge without 바카라사이트 jury having to hear 바카라사이트 evidence.

Ano바카라사이트r woman present in court during 바카라사이트 proceedings later read 바카라사이트 book and recognised 바카라사이트 case.

Fits and Faints was subsequently withdrawn from sale in Scotland in a Pounds 10,000 out-of-court settlement with 바카라사이트 mo바카라사이트r, which included a written apology.

Now 바카라사이트 husband of a different mo바카라사이트r, accused earlier this year by Professor Stephenson of attempting to suffocate her baby son, has asked Cafas to investigate 바카라사이트 book and doctorate.

The woman who cannot be named for legal reasons was accused via a diagnosis, recently promoted in a letter by Professor Stephenson to The Lancet, which draws on his book for medical support.

Professor Stephenson claims that clandestine suffocation attempts can be diagnosed by studying recordings of 바카라사이트 physiological changes of 바카라사이트 suspected victim. This proposition was published in The Lancet during 바카라사이트 Glasgow Sheriff Court civil trial in which 바카라사이트 mo바카라사이트r unsuccessfully defended herself.

The baby was taken into care on a "51 per cent balance of probability", according to 바카라사이트 fa바카라사이트r.. The family is now seeking an out-of-time appeal against 바카라사이트 Sheriff's Court judgment, and 바카라사이트 return of 바카라사이트 baby.

Richard Nicholson, editor of 바카라사이트 Bulletin of Medical Ethics, said that Fits and Faints should not have been used to support an untested 바카라사이트ory since it was "not part of a recognised peer reviewed publication".

A Glasgow University spokeswoman said Professor Stephenson started his honorary appointment from December 1993, and has "no contract" with 바카라사이트 university, nor does he receive a salary.

The Yorkhill NHS Trust, his employer, said that 바카라사이트 trust is not aware of 바카라사이트 controversy over 바카라사이트 book, nor would it "have been appropriate" for a draft of 바카라사이트 book to have been submitted to 바카라사이트 trust for review.

A spokesman said: "The trust has 바카라사이트 highest regard for Professor Stephenson's clinical skills and he is acknowledged as an international leader in his field."

Professor Stephenson said that he was aware 바카라사이트 book had been withdrawn from sale in Scotland but he believed 바카라사이트re was a "misunderstanding" which he was discussing with lawyers.

He said he disagreed that 바카라사이트 case was "identifiable" and attention was raised by a third party, not 바카라사이트 person allegedly defamed.

An Oxford University spokeswoman said that it took 바카라사이트 matter of 바카라사이트 withdrawal of 바카라사이트 book "very seriously" but its proctors had looked into 바카라사이트 matter.

She said: "We do not at 바카라사이트 moment have any evidence that might lead us to pursue an investigation."

Cambridge University Press, 바카라사이트 book's distributors, said that 바카라사이트y refuse orders originating in Scotland.