Dr Grégory Pamart was the only doctor in Jenlain, a village of 1000 inhabitants in the North of France close to the Belgian border. On September 15, this 33 year old father of four was forced to resign over the vaccine mandates. He penned a farewell letter to his patients to explain his decision on his blog. The mayor has called his actions irresponsible and he has been widely condemned by the French media. Many others, however, read his letter in entirely different way — as a testament to his deep sense of responsibility to his patients. In his letter, he speaks of his determination to uphold the laws around medical integrity and to follow his own conscience as a protector of the Hippocratic Oath.
Dr. Pamart kindly gave his permission for me to translate and share his letter in English. In defending his position, he cites the Kouchner law of 2002 on the rights of patients according to which “no medical act, no treatment, can be carried out without the free and informed consent of the person”.
See here for the original French on Dr. Pamart’s blog.
My dear patients,
The past year and a half has seen many upheavals in our societies, in our behavior and in our interactions.
We quickly saw health authorities lose interest in health, in its highest sense of “state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not just the absence of disease or infirmity.”
On the contrary, in 2020, all so-called public health action ceased to focus on the health of individuals to focus solely on a particular disease, ignoring states of depression, discomfort, isolation, suicide, relapsing diabetes, worsening of obesity. Sadly, the list goes on.
Worse still, the whole of the so-called public health action in 2021 ceased to be interested in this single disease, and today vaccination, in itself questionable, seems to be an end in itself, a “necessity” to be procured “whatever the cost ”.
This logic completely abandons the major aspects of the fight against infections; namely, all the preventive and curative possibilities, in particular early treatment which can, as I have observed in treating my own patients, protect against hospitalization in the vast majority of cases.
Even more serious than the strategic error at the medical level, the new measures announced by the President of the Republic introduce a major departure from the conception of free and informed consent to treatment. These measures mean overriding free will, compelling consciences and ultimately violating the body.
I love my work. You who know me know that I have always tried to respect the choice of my patients. I am not asking you to understand or accept mine. Know in any case that each of my actions is carefully considered. I am not immune to errors of judgment, but you can be sure of my sincerity, especially when I tell you that, regardless of the health recommendations, I do not believe that I ever put you in danger.
I have never stopped thinking that the general practitioner has a role of companionship, support, and information. In this role, one should never try to impose one’s own ideas or try to convince one’s patients.
Because of this I do not accept the relinquishing of freedom over my body in order to continue my profession.
I do not accept the totalitarian idea of medicine that bypasses the free and informed consent of the patient.
I do not accept, either, that our health data are collected in large national files and used by the administrative authorities to place sanctions on those that the political authority has deemed undesirable.
It has been a few weeks since I made the firm and difficult decision not to give in to the obligation of vaccination. This means that I will no longer be able to exercise my profession as a general practitioner.
If you don’t understand this decision, I hope you will trust me enough to accept that I could be wrong, but to also accept that I could be right.
Some of you have told me of your dismay “all these studies for nothing? “. Know that, even if I never practice general medicine again, I absolutely do not regret my vocation. I had the extraordinary chance to discover my patients, as individuals, in the intimacy of a true and sincere relationship.
During my 9 years of study and 6 years of practice, of which almost 3 was with you in Jenlain, I discovered treasures of humanity that a whole life in another profession would not have allowed me to find.
I believe that one cannot practice medicine other than by loving. And the more I practiced the more I liked you. Each of you. As the unique and wonderful beings that you are.
I fear that medicine is becoming nothing but a set of algorithms and protocols.
Each of us will judge, as things come to pass, on what transgression of our humanity they do not accept. To hide our smiles, to stop kissing each other, to make granny eat alone in the kitchen, to sign a document to leave our house, to receive an injection to go to work, to flash a barcode to go to the restaurant, to have his child jabbed so that he has the right to go to the swimming pool… I hope that I don’t have to add to this list in a few months.
I am afraid as I watch the birth of this utopian society, “all together against a disease” which denies the self-worth and individuality of each of us; which imposes a single outcome, a single path; that wants to include each citizen in a single job description; a society marching against the vagaries of life, at the cost of difference, at the cost of freedom of conscience, at the cost of the free agency of our bodies…at the cost of love.
Today I leave my job. Yet I am not afraid. I surrender to providence with confidence, because I believe that we all have the possibility of changing the world, within our reach, according to our talents, our strength, our perseverance.
The ideal society is not built on a perfect social order, the ideal society begins simply, with a smile, the willingness to welcome others and take care of each other.
It is in order to take care of you that I regret that I must leave you.
Your always loyal,
Doctor Grégory Pamart
AUTHOR’S NOTE: I would like to thank Yannick Ramaekers for his help with the English translation.
subincontinentia 
What a brave man. I so respect anyone who is willing to stand by their convictions, come what may.He is surely the opitimy of this.
Had this letter had “bref” written before it I could easily have believed much of its content to have been written by you Becky. I agree with so much that he/ you have been saying whether it be referring to France, England or elsewhere. I feel that here, the vaccine is being used as a feel good factor. Get jabbed and all will be fine.( You don’t need facts they would only confuse)
My problem with this fight and any other for that matter is, how to be heard, as an individual or a group. We have no effective system, never have had. That’s not to suggest one shouldn’t speak out, Its our right !.But we do need a system.
I think the problem is that we are in between systems. The media has failed in its duty to represent different sides to a story, but we have more than ever before ways for individuals to be heard with blogs and podcasts and such. People never had such opportunities before in history. It is our right to speak out, of course, but I see it as more than a right. I see it as a duty. It doesn’t have to be through social media. It can simply be with ones family members, neighbours, colleagues. We just have to keep the conversation going and create little chinks here and there. Eventually, enough light will get through to illuminate a new perspective.
I was referring more to direct contact with the government, as in “listen to us, we want all the facts and information, represent us” But you are right of course, all forms of discussion are hugely important, and social media certainly does spread the word.
You are doing a great job Bec, and have certainly opened my eyes to certain issues. I sometimes use your material in debates with friends, taking benefit of the hard work that you have put in, especially being able to back it up with your references. I will always say where I have found the information though ( your name) but enjoy the interesting discussions. Thank you. x
Good to hear, Kevin. Discussion is what we need. You’re a perfect example of the power of one!