Doctor E

This is a fictional case study. A colleague found this doctor injecting opiates in the hospital toilets. He refused to co-operate with our investigation.

Doctor E was referred to the GMC when a colleague reported that she found him injecting opiates in the hospital toilets at the end of his shift.

He had a health assessment and was found to be suffering from opioid dependency.

Decision makers at the GMC decided to explore whether the doctor would agree to voluntary undertakings which included complete abstinence from the use of opiates, remaining under the care of a treating psychiatrist, compliance with unannounced testing and attending a support group.

During discussions, the doctor rejected the findings of the health assessment and denied the allegations in relation to the incident.

In view of this, a voluntary arrangement was not possible and the case was referred for a fitness to practise hearing to establish the evidence in relation to the allegations. Fitness to practise hearings are held at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS).  The MPTS is part of the GMC, but is operationally separate from the GMC’s investigation function.

Doctor E continued to refuse to co-operate with the GMC’s investigation. Shortly after the case was referred for a hearing, a further incident was reported that the doctor had to be sent home as he had appeared intoxicated and disorientated during a clinic. In view of the risk to patients, the case was referred to an Interim Orders Panel who suspended the doctor during the course of the investigation. The interim orders panel hearings are also held at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service.

By the time the case came to a hearing, the doctor had still not complied with a health assessment and had been reported by a pharmacist for self-prescribing of opiates. In view of the doctor’s serious lack of insight into the concerns about his health and the potential risk to patients, the Fitness to Practise Panel suspended him.