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'{{About|the UK doctor and journalist|the adventure/mystery novelist|Max Pemberton}} {{Use British English|date=January 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2012}} '''Max Pemberton''' is a British medical doctor, journalist and author.<ref name="bmjcareers">{{Cite journal | last = Asprey | first = Donald | title = 15 minutes with... The man behind ''Trust Me, I'm A (Junior) Doctor'' | journal = BMJ | department = Careers | date = 2010-06-02 | doi = 10.1136/bmj.c2840 | volume = 335 | pages = c2840}}</ref> He works full-time as a psychiatrist in the [[National Health Service (England)|National Health Service]] (NHS).<ref name="bmjcareers" /> He is a weekly columnist for ''[[The Daily Mail]]'', writing comment on news events concerning culture, social and ethical issues, the politics of health care and the NHS.<ref name="hhbagency.com">{{Cite web | url=http://hhbagency.com/index.php/category/news/ | title=News &#124; HHB agency}}</ref> Before his move to the Daily Mail, he was a columnist for the Daily Telegraph.<ref>https://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/wellbeing/maxpemberton/</ref> He also writes a monthly column for ''[[Reader’s Digest]]'' and is a regular contributor to ''[[The Spectator]]''. He is the editor of ''Spectator Health'', a quarterly supplement from ''The Spectator''.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2014/04/introducing-spectator-health/ | title=Introducing Spectator Health| date=9 April 2014}}</ref> ==Background and early life== Pemberton was born ca. 1979<ref>[https://www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f7577 Max Pemberton: Particularly happy in bed.] BMJ 2013; 347 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f7577 (Published 23 December 2013).</ref> and brought up in London.<ref name="pinknews.co.uk">{{Cite web | url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2008/07/14/interview-trust-him-hes-a-junior-doctor-being-gay-in-the-nhs/ |title = INTERVIEW: Trust him, he's a junior doctor|date = 14 July 2008}}</ref> His parents were initially resistant to him going to medical school due to concerns about the cost and wanted him to do an apprenticeship in a Mars bar factory instead.<ref name="telegraph.co.uk">{{Cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/features/3635625/I-couldnt-have-survived-without-you.html | title=I couldn't have survived without you| date=14 February 2008| last1=Pemberton| first1=Max}}</ref> They eventually relented on condition he agreed to fund his studies for himself. He therefore began his career in journalism while at medical school to support himself financially through his studies <ref name="telegraph.co.uk"/> 'I started working in journalism out of necessity. It was a way of earning money that was compatible with the time commitments of university. In the evenings I wrote magazine pieces, advertising copy, material for websites. I even wrote poems for the inside of birthday cards'<ref name="telegraph.co.uk"/> He trained at [[University College London]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.mddus.com/mddus/resource-library/2010/fyi05/the-voice-of-junior-doctors.aspx | title=Sorry, we can't find the page you are looking for &#124; MDDUS}}</ref> While at medical school he also completed a degree in Anthropology, for which he was awarded a first.<ref name="bmjcareers"/> At the age of 23, just before graduating in medicine, he was given a column by the Telegraph after he wrote an unsolicited letter to the then editor, [[Charles Moore (journalist)|Charles Moore]], with three sample columns.<ref name="telegraph.co.uk"/> He has said that he manages to fit in his writing with his medical career by never going on holiday and not having a television.<ref name="medicalprotection.org">http://www.medicalprotection.org/uk/new-doctor/june-2011/in-the-spotlight-max-pemberton</ref> ==Journalism== He first started writing for ''The Daily Telegraph'' in August 2003. After the publication of his first book in 2008, the title of his column in ''The Daily Telegraph'' changed from ''Trust Me I'm A (Junior) Doctor'' to ''Finger On The Pulse''.<ref>{{cite news|author=Health Advice |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthadvice/3353670/Max-Pemberton-Finger-on-the-Pulse.html |title=Max Pemberton: Finger on the Pulse |publisher=Telegraph |accessdate=16 January 2012|date=3 March 2008 }}</ref> He began writing more in response to news events. Later still, his column was relaunched in a more prominent position under simply ‘Max Pemberton’. His column was published every Monday.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthadvice/maxpemberton/ |title = Health|newspaper = The Telegraph|date = 30 March 2016}}</ref> He is a staunch advocate for the NHS.<ref>{{cite web|author=Health |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/2208144/The-NHS-is-sick-but-is-it-terminal.html |title=The NHS is sick, but is it terminal? |publisher=Telegraph |accessdate=16 January 2012}}</ref> He is critical of the government’s introduction of [[Private finance initiative|PFI]] in the NHS<ref>{{cite news|author=Health Advice |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthadvice/3356306/Finger-on-the-pulse.html |title=Finger on the pulse |publisher=Telegraph |accessdate=16 January 2012|date=7 September 2008 }}</ref> and opposes the introduction of the NHS patient record database.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/remedyuk/docs/www.rukmag.org |title=R-UK Magazine Issue 2 |publisher=Issuu.com |date=28 August 2008 |accessdate=16 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Max Pemberton |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthadvice/maxpemberton/6787809/The-chaos-of-the-NHSs-electronic-records.html |title=The chaos of the NHS's electronic records |publisher=Telegraph |accessdate=16 January 2012|date=14 December 2009 }}</ref> He has also spoken out against the way the [[European Working Time Directive]] has been implemented by [[NHS trusts]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8177878.stm |title=Health &#124; Cap on junior doctor hours starts |publisher=BBC News |date=1 August 2009 |accessdate=16 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8179000/8179464.stm |title=BBC – Today – Today: Saturday 1 August 2009 |publisher=BBC News |date=1 August 2009 |accessdate=16 January 2012}}</ref> and about [[Medical Training Application Service|MTAS]] and [[Modernising Medical Careers|MMC]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Max |first=Dr |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1544310/In-my-hospital-the-staff-are-crying.html |title=In my hospital, the staff are crying |publisher=Telegraph |date=2 March 2007 |accessdate=16 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1545221/I-wouldnt-trust-this-system-to-select-someone-to-water-my-plants.html |title=I wouldn't trust this system to select someone to water my plants |publisher=Telegraph |date=12 March 2007 |accessdate=16 January 2012}}</ref> He often writes about the rights of [[older people]]<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.maxpemberton.com/component/search/older%2Bpeople/%252F?ordering=newest&searchphrase=exact&limit=20 |title = Max Pemberton - Search}}</ref> and those with [[mental illness]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.maxpemberton.com/component/search/mental%2Billness/%252F?ordering=newest&searchphrase=exact&limit=20 | title=Max Pemberton - Search}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Health |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/3355281/Finger-on-the-Pulse.html |title=Finger on the Pulse |publisher=Telegraph |accessdate=16 January 2012}}</ref> He is openly gay<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rainbownetwork.com/download/file/DrMaxPembertonFeb2010N&D.mp3 |title=GaydarRadio |publisher=Rainbownetwork.com |accessdate=16 January 2012}}</ref> and has written against the ban on gay people [[donating blood]] in the UK<ref>{{cite news|author=Men's Health |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/men_shealth/3354388/Finger-on-the-Pulse.html |title=Finger on the Pulse |publisher=Telegraph |accessdate=16 January 2012|date=20 April 2008 }}</ref> and in support of [[gay adoption]]<ref>{{cite web|author=Health |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/3347256/Trust-me-Im-a-junior-doctor.html |title=Trust me, I'm a junior doctor |publisher=Telegraph |accessdate=16 January 2012}}</ref> and the impact of [[homophobic bullying]]<ref>{{cite news|author=Health Advice |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthadvice/3356535/Finger-on-the-pulse.html |title=Finger on the pulse |publisher=Telegraph |accessdate=16 January 2012|date=21 September 2008 }}</ref> He has also written in support of [[gay marriage]]<ref>https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/10193860/Why-marriage-matters-but-faddy-diets-dont.html</ref>. He has been critical of the adoption by NHS trusts of infection control policies such as ‘bare below the elbows’ which, he says, have no evidence to support them<ref>https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/8595728/Hospitals-need-more-beds-not-more-bare-arms.html</ref> and has criticised the Department of Health for ignoring reports suggesting that the biggest factor in reducing the spread of hospital infections is bed occupancy rate.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthadvice/maxpemberton/8207135/Max-Pemberton-We-need-fresh-thinking-about-single-sex-wards.html |title = Max Pemberton: We need fresh thinking about single-sex wards|date = 20 December 2010|last1 = Pemberton|first1 = Max}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthadvice/3351833/Trust-me-Im-a-junior-doctor.html |title = Trust me I'm a junior doctor|date = 21 October 2007|last1 = Pemberton|first1 = Max}}</ref><ref>https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/8596674/Max-Pemberton-Finger-on-the-pulse.html</ref> While being interviewed on the Today programme, he claimed that trusts were asking junior doctors to lie on monitoring forms and falsify the number of hours they really worked. He quoted research conducted by the Royal College of Surgeons to support this which found that 50 per cent of all junior doctors reported being asked to lie about the hours they worked.{{cn|date=May 2020}} He also wrote features and interviews for the ''Telegraph'' and provided the medical opinion for the weekly Spa Spy column.<ref>https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/spaspy/</ref> He writes a short story for ''Reader’s Digest'' each month and has also written a variety of health related features and columns.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGSzoGATKMw</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hhbagency.com/authors/pemberton.html |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2010-03-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110125094049/http://www.hhbagency.com/authors/pemberton.html |archivedate=25 January 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In April 2015 he announced that after 12 years he was leaving the ''Telegraph'' and moving his column to the ''Daily Mail''. His column is in the Saturday edition of the ''Daily Mail'' and focuses on mental health and social issues. He also writes widely throughout the paper on social, cultural and ethical issues, the politics of healthcare and the NHS.<ref name="hhbagency.com"/> ==Books== His first book, ''Trust Me I’m A (Junior) Doctor'', published by [[Hodder and Stoughton]], recounted his first year working as a doctor in the NHS and was based on his first year of columns for ''The Daily Telegraph''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hodder.co.uk/authors/author.aspx?AuthorID=32946 |title=> Our Authors > Max Pemberton |publisher=hodder.co.uk |accessdate=16 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Grew |first=Tony |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-8358.html/ |title=INTERVIEW: Trust him, he's a junior doctor – from Pink News – all the latest gay news from the gay community |publisher=Pink News |date=14 July 2008 |accessdate=16 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Katie Toms |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/feb/17/booksonhealth.biography |title=Review: Trust Me, I'm a (Junior) Doctor by Max Pemberton &#124; Books &#124; The Observer |newspaper=The Guardian |location=UK |accessdate=16 January 2012|date=17 February 2008 }}</ref> It was serialised as [[book of the week]] on [[BBC Radio 4]].<ref>{{cite web|author=– 15:30 |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008zlj5 |title=Radio 4 Programmes – Book of the Week: Trust me, I'm a (Junior) Doctor |publisher=BBC |date=23 February 2008 |accessdate=16 January 2012}}</ref> His second book ''Where Does It Hurt?'' details his time working in an outreach project for the homeless and people addicted to drugs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gaydarradio.com/UserPortal/Article/Detail.aspx?ID=25226&sid=89 |title=GaydarNation |publisher=Gaydarradio.com |accessdate=16 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Health |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/6041942/Dr-Max-Pemberton-How-many-drug-addict-grannies-do-you-know.html |title=Dr Max Pemberton: 'How many drug-addict grannies do you know?' |publisher=Telegraph |accessdate=16 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00qs3x9 |title=Radio 4 Programmes – Loose Ends, 20 February 2010 |publisher=BBC |date=20 February 2010 |accessdate=16 January 2012}}</ref> His third book, ''The Doctor Will See You Now'', was published in 2011 and is set in a hospital covering general medicine, A&E and dementia.<ref>{{Cite book | url=http://www.hodder.co.uk/books/detail.page?isbn=9780340919958 | title=The Doctor Will See You Now| date=24 April 2019}}</ref> All his books feature the same set of characters, which he says are loosely based on his friends <ref name="medicalprotection.org"/> He has also written one self-help book, ''How To Stop Smoking With CBT'', published in January 2015. ==Broadcasting== He has appeared on various current affairs programmes on television and radio. He was a frequent guest on ''Live with Gabby'' until it was axed in 2012.<ref>http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/pxf6z/live-with-gabby--14032012</ref> More recently he has appeared as an investigative reporter for the Channel 4 series ''How Not To Get Old''.<ref>http://www.internurse.com/cgi-bin/go.pl/library/abstract.html?uid=100429</ref> He also contributed to the accompanying book.<ref>https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Not-Get-Old-Channel/dp/0593072669</ref> He was the script consultant of the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] drama [[Marchlands]] and [[The Jury (TV serial)|The Jury]]. He is a reporter on the BBC Radio 4 flagship health programme ''Inside Health''.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01cjwvm |title = BBC Radio 4 - Inside Health, Sleep tabs death, e-cigs, GP examples, underactive thyroid and pregnancy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01gg7gq |title = BBC Radio 4 - Inside Health, Teenage depression, Choir, Heart failure, Protein shakes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01dhs1c |title = BBC Radio 4 - Inside Health, PCOS, garlic, PSA test, dignity}}</ref> ==Politics== He has stated that he is non partisan, adding that he prefers to assess political policies on their merits rather than allying with a political party and his column has both criticised and supported the main political parties at various times.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthadvice/9936094/Max-Pemberton-Im-not-losing-any-sleep-over-the-bedroom-tax.html |title = Max Pemberton: I'm not losing any sleep over the bedroom tax|date = 17 March 2013|last1 = Pemberton|first1 = Max}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/men_shealth/3350124/Trust-me-Im-a-junior-doctor.html | title=Trust me, I'm a junior doctor| date=24 June 2007| last1=Pemberton| first1=Max}}</ref> He describes his political leanings as libertarian although divulged that he voted liberal democrat in the 2010 general election because he ‘thought that the NHS would be safest in their hands.’<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8753053/The-health-reform-Bill-moves-one-step-closer.html |title = The health reform Bill moves one step closer|year = 2011}}</ref> However, he has subsequently criticised them on their support for the NHS reform bill, saying of the liberal democrats that he ‘had failed to take into account the sweet allure of power, the heady top notes of which they have tasted since sipping at the poisoned chalice of coalition government.'<ref name="ReferenceA"/> He has been particularly critical of the Coalition government’s [[Health and Social Care Act 2012|Health and Social Care Act]], writing a series of articles in the ''Telegraph'' denouncing the plans for which he won the 2013 Medical Journalist Association Prize.<ref name="mjauk.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.mjauk.org/news/mja-summer-award-winners |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2013-09-21 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925171855/http://www.mjauk.org/news/mja-summer-award-winners |archivedate=25 September 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> ==Pen name== The name Max Pemberton was originally a [[nom de plume]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/the-feral-beast-786339.html |title = The Feral Beast|date = 24 February 2008}}</ref> He explained the reason he initially chose to work in the media under a different name to the one he practiced medicine under was because: 'I want to make a clear distinction between being a writer and a journalist and being a doctor. I want to send out a signal to my patients that this is different, that I am a clinician'.<ref name="bmjcareers"/> However, he said that he had become so used to being referred to by this name that he preferred it and that his partner called him by this name as well. After the GMC released guidelines on the use of pen names for doctors, Pemberton decided to legally change his name to his nom de plume and now practises under this name as a doctor as well.<ref>https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/9977548/Max-Pemberton-General-Medical-Council-rules-threaten-doctors-free-speech.html</ref> ==Personal life== Pemberton is gay.<ref name="pinknews.co.uk"/> He lives in the [[Barbican]], London.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.edatlarge.co.uk/uncategorized/dr-max-pemberton-author-and-columnist/ |title = Dr Max Pemberton: Author and Columnist &#124; ed at Large}}</ref> He is related to the Victorian novelist [[Max Pemberton]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://issuu.com/medicalstudentnewspaper/docs/ms_april_2011?e=2576936/4664254 |title = MS_April_2011}}</ref> As well as a degree in medicine, he also holds a first class honours degree in [[Anthropology]]. He is the patron of the charity CW Friend, which provides information and support to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans community in the Midlands.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://cwfriend.co.uk/?page_id=61 | title=Meet our patron &#124; cwfriend}}</ref> He is also the patron of Epsom Mental Health Week.<ref>http://www.lovemelovemymind.org.uk/downloads/emhw_brochure_13_final.pdf</ref> ==Awards== *Royal College of Psychiatrists Morris Markowe Public Education Prize <ref>{{cite web|author=Health |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/3340812/Trust-me-Im-a-junior-doctor-wish-you-were-here.html |title=Trust me, I'm a junior doctor: 'wish you were here!' |publisher=Telegraph |accessdate=16 January 2012}}</ref> *Royal College of Psychiatrists Public Educator of the Year Award 2010 <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/events/rcpsychawards2012/rcpsychawardswinners2010.aspx |title=RCPsych Awards Winners 2010 |publisher=Rcpsych.ac.uk |accessdate=9 June 2012}}</ref> *Mind Journalist of the Year Award 2010 <ref>[http://www.mind.org.uk/mindawards/awards ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100814153812/http://www.mind.org.uk/mindawards/awards |date=14 August 2010 }}</ref> *Medical Journalists Association Winter Awards 2012 Witty Writing Award <ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite web |url=http://www.mjauk.org/news/panorama-among-winners-mja-winter-awards |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2013-09-21 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925165704/http://www.mjauk.org/news/panorama-among-winners-mja-winter-awards |archivedate=25 September 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> *Medical Journalists Association Winter Awards 2012 Interviewer of the Year (commendation) <ref name="ReferenceB"/> *Medical Journalists Association Summer Awards 2013 Story of the Year Award <ref name="mjauk.org"/> *Stonewall Journalist of the Year 2013 shortlisted <ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.stonewall.org.uk/media/current_releases/9274.asp |title = Media releases|date = 11 April 2017}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}} ==External links== * http://www.maxpemberton.com/ * https://web.archive.org/web/20110125094049/http://www.hhbagency.com/authors/pemberton.html * http://www.hodder.co.uk/authors/author.aspx?AuthorID=32946 {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Pemberton, Max}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:21st-century British medical doctors]] [[Category:British medical writers]] [[Category:British psychiatrists]] [[Category:Gay writers]] [[Category:LGBT writers from the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]'