Below the belt

Bashing the General Optical Council has become a popular optical blood sport of late but the blows have slipped to such a low level as to make even Optician’s eyes water.

Optician prides itself on being a fearless and impartial independent voice for the profession and takes comment from all quarters regardless of the commercial pressure it places us under.

From time to time Optician declines the opportunity to report on certain things placed at its disposal. This may be because they are libellous, illfounded, generated out of malice or for personal gain or because the source is anonymous.

Optician is a professional magazine bound by the laws of the land and the codes of conduct laid down by the publishing community.
Recently Optician declined just such an offer to publish the results of an internet poll which suggested a lack of confidence in the General Optical Council. Not only was the premise and context of the poll suspect but the level of participation was tiny and those casting the votes anonymous.

Optician was surprised to see the story reported in OT but gives that organ credit for pointing out the survey was of a paltry 102 respondents. Even more bizarre was the reason why the website’s users felt they had to vent their frustration anonymously. A spokesman claimed his colleagues feared contacting the GOC directly because they were concerned about a backlash.

I can’t remember anyone having been roughed up by the GOC’s heavies lately. Who was the last person struck off or vilified after questioning the party line? The GOC has its faults and Optician has questioned GOC action on disciplinary and educational policy in the past and queried its speed in tackling internet contact lens issues. But dressing up this kind of sniping from a handful of anonymous malcontents on a blog-style web chat as news is not on.

Give the GOC some respect, this poll is below the belt.