An NHS GP has warned that 'fit to do' letters could become a thing of the past after a student broke her neck during a skydive despite being cleared by a doctor. Dr Tim Mercer said the case of Miriam Barker, who is seeking £15 million in compensation, is likely to set a precedent that will deter GPs from signing such documents.
Miriam Barker, 21, a history and philosophy student at Southampton University, joined the Skydiving Society in 2018. She paid £30 for a private appointment to obtain a letter clearing her to jump. During her first jump at Dunkeswell Airfield in Devon, her parachute opened successfully at 3,500 metres, but she hit the ground with force, suffering a catastrophic spinal cord injury that left her paralysed.
In a TikTok video, Dr Mercer said: 'This is a tragedy and it's likely to be an end of fit to do things letters from GPs for all eternity.' He explained that he no longer feels qualified to say someone is fit to jump out of a plane, scuba dive with sharks, or climb Mount Everest, as these are beyond his general practice training.
Dr Mercer noted that the letter cost around £30 and was private work, meaning the GP may not be indemnified. He predicted no GP will sign such letters again, as the risk of being sued for millions is not worth the fee. He suggested the NHS could follow the DVLA model, where doctors provide medical evidence but specially trained assessors make the final decision on fitness.
Dr Mercer concluded: 'Why would anyone sign a letter for 30 quid to say you are fit to do something when they could be sued for £15 million?' He added that the days of such letters are 'gone'.
