In a shocking storyline that almost seems like a scene from a film, we are learning about disturbing events which have occurred in the famed departmental store in London-Harrods. The scenario involves doctors, a billionaire, and a woman for whom, due to this disturbing event, the lady left in a state of confusions and distress. So, let’s get into what happened, who was involved, and why it matters.

What Happened at Harrods?
One woman lodged a complaint concerning her experience at Harrods in 2017, relating to the year 2008 when she had applied for work. She had to undergo some medical examinations that proved to be very personal. She had shared medical information that should have been considered private with Mohamed Al Fayed, Harrods former owner, and she considered this to be an affront to her sentiments. She said she had informed the doctor that she wanted her information to be kept private, and it was later on that the news from her informant reached her that Al Fayed might have known about her medical conditions.

The lady felt it was necessary to speak up as she listened to the other women. They would mention that they had similar bad experiences with Al Fayed at Harrods, and they were made to feel unsafe and uncomfortable during their service at the place.
Indeed, this was an extremely vital move for her. She wanted to raise her voice and educate everyone on the issue. She was, indeed, a tough one to approach the public with her story as she did.

Response of the Doctors’ Regulator
This was disappointing, as the General Medical Council (GMC), the UK’s governing body overseeing doctors, had intimated that they could not “investigate the matter because it occurred more than five years ago, and it does not currently appear to be in the greater public interest”. Clearly this infuriated and anguished this lady, as she felt her concerns were valid and important.

Anthony Omo is the GMC director. He assured that they would seriously look into any new complaints made. He deemed the accusations against Al Fayed as distressing. “We will carefully assess any new concerns raised with us,” he said. This means they are willing to listen to others who may have been affected.

The Woman’s Experience
She was medically examined-a condition of her employment. She was given blood samples and tested for venereal diseases. All this, to her, was confidential and private. However, she felt betrayed when she realized that her medical history had been shared with Al Fayed.

She recalled that day when she was summoned to Al Fayed’s office. She said she felt uneasy and surprised as her medical condition cropped out in a very casual tone. “He asked me if I had ‘picked up the thing,'” she quoted him as saying. This made her believe that someone from Harrods had informed Al Fayed of her health problems.

To make matters worse, she claims that in the course of the very same discussion, Al Fayed attempted to kiss her. It would then leave her violated and frightened and a decision not to take up the job.

A Missed Opportunity
In February 2017, this response was replied to by an email from the GMC saying they could not open an investigation since their normal rules usually prevent them from investigating such incidents if they happened more than five years prior unless the case was grave. This answer infuriated the woman who believed the behavior by Al Fayed was grave enough to attract action.

“I was angry and disappointed,” she said, describing how she felt after receiving the GMC’s response. She wished that the GMC would have looked more closely at the power and influence Al Fayed had during his time at Harrods. She believed that even a small investigation could have revealed major wrongdoing.

The Bigger Picture
It forms part of a comprehensive crisis. Many females who had been working with Harrods have indeed had undesirable experiences of being threatened and harassed by Al Fayed. Among such women, some were all too fearful to take a step until the situations continued until lately when they were given the strength through more friends who started sharing such experiences in public. I couldn’t help but think how easy that was for such victims as well how difficult it sometimes becomes for organizations such as GMC to reach out to them.

Dr. Wendy Snell was the examining doctor. Another, Dr. Anne Coxon, has been identified by some of those who have reported themselves. She’s been put forward by some women who claim she carries out STD tests at Harrods, which she denies.

Present Actions and Support
Existing owners of Harrods have expressed shock at the accusations against Al Fayed. They have apologized to the victims and said that they are conducting an internal review to see if any existing employees were involved directly or indirectly in these distressing situations.

They also established a settlement program for the former employees who claim to have been victimized by Al Fayed’s conducts. Such a program will try to work out with them and offer assistance towards healing.

Another to get in the fray is “Justice for Harrods Survivors”. They now have the legal right to represent 60 women who have come forward with their own stories against Al Fayed. The group’s lawyers are currently going through hundreds of questions, including claims over Fulham Football Club, which Al Fayed owned.