QUEEN'S BENCH DIVISION
THE ADMINISTRATIVE COURT
Strand London WC2 |
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B e f o r e :
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THE QUEEN ON THE APPLICATION OF DR ABRAHAEM | (CLAIMANT) | |
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GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL | (DEFENDANT) |
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Smith Bernal Wordwave Limited
190 Fleet Street London EC4A 2AG
Tel No: 020 7404 1400 Fax No: 020 7831 8838
(Official Shorthand Writers to the Court)
MS LYDIA BARNFATHER (instructed by Legal Department of the General Medical Council) appeared on behalf of the DEFENDANT
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Crown Copyright ©
"9. The purpose of the sanctions is not to be punitive, but to protect the public interest, although they may have a punitive effect.
The Public Interest
10. There is clear judicial authority that the public interest includes:
a. The protection of members of the public.
b. The maintenance of public confidence in the profession.
c. Declaring and upholding proper standards of conduct.
11. The public interest may also include the doctor's return to work if he or she possesses certain skills, competencies or knowledge, for example expertise in a particular area, or language skills."
"The events of the last two and a half years have been a most devastating ordeal. I know that I have done wrong and severely regret my actions which have caused tremendous psychological, social and financial suffering for me and my family. The scale of my regret and the consequences of my actions cannot be overstated."
He then goes into details about the financial position and the familiar problems which arise in his present position. He then concludes:
"Over the past two and a half years, there has not been a single day passed without regrets for what I have done. I am so sad and I can only express my sorrow and regrets in my statement. I have had a lot of time to reflect on all the events since I was first suspended from the Medway hospital two and a half years ago. I do deeply regret my actions and with hindsight realise that I could have been more circumspect and vigilant when handling and storing the medicines which were in my home. I also cannot believe my own foolishness at removing the prescriptions from the hospital and using them especially as I could have obtained the medicines by lawful means. It is something that I shall forever regret."
I should observe as a matter of detail that it does seem to have been common ground, although the precise basis for it is not something which is entirely clear to the court, that had he wished to obtain medicines for the purpose of sending them to his wife and children in Egypt at the material time, he could have done so by lawful procedures; but he did not.
"This sanction is likely to be appropriate when the behaviour is fundamentally incompatible with being a doctor and involves any of the following (this list is not exhaustive):
- Serious departure from the relevant professional standards as set out in Good Medical Practice."
In my judgment, there can be no doubt that there was a serious departure from the relevant professional standards as set out in the Good Medical Practice, I might say by way of inclusion in that, the medical practice that exists in connection with the way in which doctors should behave, vis-a-vis their family and their medical care for their family. The next criteria is:
"- Doing serious harm to others (patients or otherwise), either deliberately or through incompetence and particularly where there is a continuing risk to patients."
That does not arise.
"- Dishonesty (especially where persistent and covered up)."
The next point:
"- Persistent lack of insight into seriousness of actions or consequences."
The rubric to these matters is that erasure is likely to be appropriate when it involves any of the following.
"This sanction may be appropriate when some or all of the following factors are apparent (this list is not exhaustive).
- A serious instance of misconduct but where a lesser sanction is not sufficient.
- Not fundamentally incompatible with continuing to be a registered doctor.
- No evidence of harmful deep-seated personality or attitudinal problems.
- No evidence of repetition of behaviour since the incident.
- Committee satisfied doctor has insight and does not pose a significant risk of repeating behaviour."