PRIMROSE HILL, LONDON -- I have nearly seven degrees, including the second highest First from Cambridge in 1996 in natural sciences. I went up to Cambridge in 1993, and I graduated in 2001 with my Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and Doctor of Philosophy.
However, I was profoundly alcoholic between after around 2003. I was then erased from the General Medical Register in the UK in 2007, after a hearing which the GMC took several years to prepare, whilst I was on the register, receiving no treatment, and very unwell.
On 3rd June 2007, I was admitted to a teaching hospital in North London, having had an epileptic seizure and a cardiac arrest. I nearly died. I really believe in retrospect my personal situation should never have been allowed to get this bad. The GMC should have some moral responsibility for sick doctors, I firmly believe.
It was alleged that I was stalking by the GMC, even though I have proof in my criminal record that I have never received a reprimand, caution or warning for stalking; I was very ill at the time of the hearing in July 2006.
I am very angry about this, as I am disabled and rarely have been in salaried employment since. I started a good academic career when I became a Queen's Scholar in 1987 at Westminster School. In fact, since 2007, despite being disabled, I have recovered, and completed my Bachelor of Law. I also have achieved a PRINCE2 qualification in complex project management, and nearly finished my Master of Law. I am about to start a MBA (Master of Business Administration), which makes perfect sense for me as I am a Director of a private limited company myself, and an associate of the Institute of Directors. I am very enthused about commerce and entrepreneurship, which also explains why I have been elected to a Fellowship of the Royal Society for Arts, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.
I am very happy now at 36, but it's incredibly important to me to explain to others how and why I have achieved recovery. In the relative absence of support by the GMC, I feel that it is horrific that doctors with mental health problems inadvertently suffer as much as I did. I regularly blog on my website http://shibleyrahman.com and http://www.shibleyrahman.blogspot.com, and my discussion group (which allows anyone to sign up and leave
comments) http://www.drshibleyrahman.com If you have any similar experiences, I would love to hear from you.
My LinkedIn account is viewable at http://www.linkedin.com/in/drshibleyrahman, and I love Twitter, so find me there! http://www.twitter.com/shibleylondon
I am extremely happy, as I have not touched a drop of alcohol for about 22 months now. The only key to success to make sure you never touch alcohol. If I touch another drop, I know it will kill me. I am lucky to be given a second chance. I live with my parents in a small flat in Primrose Hill, to whom I am completely devoted. I am a member of the Labour Party and the Fabian Society, as my principles in life are firmly rooted in equality, fairness and justice. I am not ashamed of that, as I view life as precious, and for absolutely everyone.
