A GP could lose his job after asking a Muslim mother to remove her niqab during an appointment after admitting he found it "difficult to hear" what she was saying.
Dr Keith Wolverson, 52, told the mother to remove the veil covering her face as he had difficulty hearing her explain what was wrong with her child.
The GP claimed he only politely asked her to take it off as the three sat alone in the hospital consulting room at the Royal Stoke University Hospital in Stoke-on-Trent.
The mother willingly agreed to the doctor's request, he said.
However, after her husband arrived half an hour later, she complained to hospital bosses about the incident.
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The couple wrote to the General Medical Council (GMC) who will investigate Dr Wolverson for alleged discrimination.
Outraged at the claims, Dr Wolverson insisted he was just trying to do his job properly.
He added: "I found it difficult to understand what the woman was saying behind her veil, so politely asked her to remove it. I needed to hear what was wrong with her daughter, so I could offer the safest possible care.
“I’m not racist. This is nothing to do with race, religion or skin colour – it’s about clarity of communication.
“I’ve treated many Muslim patients and never had a problem when I’ve asked women to remove their veil."
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Dr Wolverson also said many Muslim patients removed their veils as soon as they walked into the consulting room.
Dr Wolverson, who had been practising medicine for 23 years, said the allegations would destroy his career, saying "It will ruin me".
According to the complaints received by GMC, the mother said she felt “victimised and racially discriminated” against during the consultation.
She said Dr Wolverson had demanded her to remove the veil, even though she refused to take it off due to religious reasons.
However, the GP said he would not continue the consultation until she removed her niqab, saying he was "rude" and "gave her a dirty look".
Mohammed Shafiq of the Ramadhan Foundation said Dr Wolverson’s action was “offensive”, and said that a female member of staff could have been asked to help on that occasion.
Speaking to the Sun Online, he said that any "stronger" sanction would be unfortunate, and insisted Dr Wolverson be put on a diversity awareness course to deter future incidents from happening again.
Joyce Robins, from the Patient Association, said losing a doctor over such an incident would be “criminal”.
She told the Sun Online: “A doctor needs to be sensitive to a patient’s religion but safety must always come first.”
