General Medical Council
Regulating doctors, ensuring good medical practice
30 Aug 2010
Fitness to Practise Panels & Investigation Committee hearings week commencing 6 September 2010
Area of practice: London
Planned dates: 14 July - 10 September 2010 Regent's Place, 350 Euston Road, London NW1 3JN
The Fitness to Practise Panel will meet at Regent's Place, 350 Euston Road, London NW1 3JN to consider a new case of impairment by reason of misconduct and deficient professional performance.
The Fitness to Practise Panel will inquire into allegations that, whilst working as a Consultant Forensic Pathologist Dr Mohmed Patel's conduct in carrying our four post mortems was irresponsible and not of the standard expected of a competent Home Office registered forensic pathologist and that in one case his conduct was liable to bring the profession into disrepute.
In accordance with Rule 41(2) of the General Medical Council (Fitness to Practise) Rules 2004, the Panel may decide to exclude the public from the proceedings or any part of the proceedings, where it considers that the circumstances of the case outweigh the public interest in holding the hearing in public.
Planned dates: 2 August - 17 September 2010 Regent's Place, 350 Euston Road, London NW1 3JN
The Fitness to Practise Panel will meet at Regent's Place, 350 Euston Road, London NW1 3JN to consider a new case of impairment by reason of misconduct.
The Panel will inquire into allegations that, whilst working as a Specialist Registrar and Consultant in Psychiatry, Dr Theodore Soutzos pursued an improper emotional and sexual relationship with three vulnerable patients, that he subsequently encouraged the patients to conceal the relationships and that he stated to the Hospital Director that he had never had a relationship with a patient. It is also alleged that Dr Soutzos' conduct was inappropriate, an abuse of his position of trust and liable to bring the medical profession into disrepute.
Further, the Panel will enquire into allegations that Dr Soutzos breached conditions imposed on his registration by the GMC's Interim Orders Panel, by failing to inform a firm of Solicitors and the parent of a young patient of the conditions, and that his conduct was dishonest.
Area of practice: Manor Park, East London
Planned dates: 16 August - 17 September 2010 Regent's Place, 350 Euston Road, London NW1 3JN
The Fitness to Practise Panel will inquire into allegations that the actions of Jadeng Zamanthangi, a general practitioner, during the course of consultations with two patients in 2005 and 2007 were inappropriate, misleading and dishonest.
It is further alleged that Dr Zamanthangi's actions in relation to her treatment of another patient between 2004 and 2007 were inappropriate, not in the best interests of the patient and below the standard expected of a reasonably competent general pracititoner.
The Panel will also inquire into allegations arising from a report which was prepared on behalf of the Primary Care Trust in May 2008 and which made conclusions about areas of Dr Zamanthangi's clinical practice, including that of her record keeping.
Area of practice: Plymouth, Devon
Reconvened dates: 23 August - 23 November 2010 Regent's Place, 350 Euston Road, London NW1 3JN
The Fitness to Practise Panel will inquire into allegations that Dr Joseph Motwani, a Consultant Cardiologist, by intervening surgically, did not act in the best interests of nine patients, that he thereby acted in a manner that was not clinically appropriate, risked comprising patients' cardiac condition and risked compromising the patients' future cardiac management. The Panel will also consider allegations that Dr Motwani risked compromising patients ability to provide informed consent, that he carried out a procedure on nine patients without conducting an appropriate prior assessment thereby acting in a manner that was inadequate, risked compromising the patients' cardiac condition and was a serious falling short of the technical standard to be expected of a Consultant Cardiologist.
The Panel will further consider allegations that Dr Motwani's decision making in respect of procedures performed on five patients was inadequate and not in the patients' best interests, that before carrying out a procedure, he failed to administer heparin to two patients and ignored a reminder from an assisting member of staff, he reacted with unjustified opposition and with hostility to a consultant colleague who decided that a Clinical Incident Report be made and he expressed anger towards a nursing colleague. In addition, the Panel will consider allegations that Dr Motwani, whilst the Principal Investigator for two research trials, conducted the trials in a manner that inadequate, careless, risked compromising the integrity of the trials and was unethical. It is also alleged that Dr Motwani acted in a manner that was inappropriate, unprofessional and not in the best interests of his patients by not acting on concerns about his clinical practice articulated by his colleagues and that on occasions he acted in a manner unduly influenced by his own interests.
Planned dates: 31 August to 13 September 2010 St James's Buildings, 79 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6FQ
The Fitness to Practise Panel will meet at St James's Buildings, 79 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6FQ to consider a new case of impairment by reason of misconduct.
It is alleged that Dr Foley, a Foundation Year 2 doctor, requested compassionate leave to care for her grandmother, and later received full pay for those days to which she was not entitled and did not attempt to repay.
It is alleged that Dr Foley obtained authorised study leave to attend a training course which she did not attend. It is also alleged that Dr Foley allowed two letters to be sent to the Trust, in the name of another doctor, and that she knew the content of those letters was untrue.
It is alleged that Dr Foley's actions in respect of these incidents were misleading and dishonest.
In accordance with Rule 41(2) of the General Medical Council (Fitness to Practise) Rules 2004, the Panel may decide to exclude the public from the proceedings or any part of the proceedings, where they consider that the circumstances of the case outweigh the public interest in holding the hearing in public.
Area of practice: Cumbria
Planned dates: 31 August to 20 September 2010 St James's Building, 79 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6FQ
The Fitness to Practise Panel will meet at St James's Building, 79 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6FQ to consider a new case of impairment by reason of misconduct.
The Panel will inquire into the allegation that Dr Khadem, a consultant ophthalmologist, either did not submit a declaration to the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust (the Trust) which stated his gross income from private practice had exceeded 10% of his NHS salary or submitted a declaration which stated his gross income had not exceeded 10% for the years ending March 2000 and 2001. It is further alleged that Dr Khadem submitted a declaration to the Trust which stated that his gross income from private practice had not exceeded 10% of his NHS salary for the years ending 31 March 2002-2005. It is alleged that Dr Khadem's omissions and/or declarations were misleading and/or dishonest.
Area of practice: Surrey
Planned dates: 1 September to 10 September 2010 St James's Building, 79 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6FQ
The Panel will inquire into the allegation that Dr Carr-Bains, whilst working as a General Practitioner, entered into sexual relationships with two vulnerable patients, with mental health problems, in 1995/1996 and 2003, respectively.
Area of practice: Dudley
Planned dates: 1 September - 7 October 2010 St James's Buildings, 79 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6FQ
It is alleged that Dr Bracka, a plastic surgeon, engaged in sexually motivated acts during a series of consultations with six teenage male patients, which were improper and inappropriate.
It is also alleged that one of the patients made a complaint to his GP about the sexually inappropriate behaviour. Despite being warned by his colleague that he should modify his practice, it is alleged that Dr Bracka continued to make sexual advances to patients under his care.
Area of practice: Yorkshire
Planned dates: 6 to 7 September 2010 St James's Buildings, 79 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6FQ
The Fitness to Practise Panel will reconvene at St James's Buildings, 79 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6FQ to consider a new case of impairment by reason of misconduct, after the case adjourned on 28 May 2010 due to lack of time, following the Panel announcing its determination on the facts in this case.
The Panel found proved that Dr Raghuraman, an orthopaedic surgeon, co-authored two research papers with his supervising consultant. Dr Raghuraman told his supervising consultant that: he had made revisions to the first paper when he had not; the first paper had been accepted for publication when it had not; and that the second paper had been submitted to the journal when it had not.
The Panel also found that Dr Raghuraman constructed an email which had purportedly been sent to him by a representative of a journal and that, following an investigation meeting at the Trust, Dr Raghuraman told the Trust that due to problems with his computer the original email had been lost .
The Panel found that Dr Raghuraman's actions, as described above, were misleading and dishonest.
Area of practice: London and Rotterdam
Planned dates: 6-10 September and 27 September - 1 October 2010
The Fitness to Practise Panel will reconvene at Regents Place, 350 Euston Road, London NW1 3JN to continue to consider a new case of impairment by reason of misconduct, conviction and caution.
In January - March 2010 a Fitness to Practise Panel convened to consider Dr Robert Trossel's case. In April 2010 the Panel announced that it had found proved allegations that Dr Trossel offered, and made false claims about, treatment with stem cell therapy, Aqua Tilis Therapy and Therapeutic Resonance Imaging, to patients with Multiple Sclerosis and Hodgkins' Disease. The Panel also found proved allegations that, in doing so, Dr Trossel's actions were unjustifiable on the basis of the available scientific or clinical medical evidence, inappropriate, not in the best interests of the patients, exploitative of vulnerable patients, false, misleading and an abuse of his position as a doctor.
In addition, the Panel found proved an allegation that on 16 August 2007 Dr Trossel was formally cautioned by the Police for an offence of making off without payment for a service, namely for failing to pay the sum of £472.50 to NCP Car Parks at Stanstead Airport, Essex on 26 June 2007.
The Panel further found proved allegations that on 17 February 2009 Dr Trossel was convicted in the Court of First Instance of the Court District of Antwerp of Failing to comply with the statutory provision that every removal and transplant of tissues, cells and organs must be carried out by a physician at a hospital as laid down by the Belgian Hospital Act of 23 December 1963 by removing or transplanting stem cells at a place which was not a recognised Hospital; And that he was also convicted of the illegal practice of medicine in Belgium by assisting Mr Aanen who failed appropriately to notify the Ministry of Public Health in Belgium of his intention to perform medical services namely the carrying out of stem cell treatments; For which Dr Trossel was sentenced to five months imprisonment which was suspended for three years and a fine of four thousand Euros.
The Panel will reconvene in September 2010 to consider whether, on the basis of the facts found proved, Dr Trossel's fitess to practise is impaired and, if necessary, what sanction, if any, should be imposed on his registration.
In accordance with Rule 41(2) of the General Medical Council (Fitness to Practise) Rules 2004, the Panel may decide to exclude the public from the proceedings or any part of the proceeding, where it considers that the circumstances of the case outweigh the public interest in holding the hearing in public.
Planned dates: 6 September - 17 September 2010 St James's Buildings, 79 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6FQ
The Panel will inquire into the allegation that, whilst working as a private practitioner at the London Medical Centre in 2007 Dr Mouton failed to review the original diagnosis for a patient, inadequately reviewed the patient and diagnosed conditions that were not clinically indicated and not in the best interest of the patient.
Area of practice: Unknown
Planned dates: 6 - 24 September 2010 Regent's Place, 350 Euston Road, London NW1 3JN
The Fitness to Practise Panel will inquire into allegations that Dr Robin Lawrence, a Consultant Psychiatrist, became emotionally involved with a patient and did not stop treating her, even though his supervisors had advised him to. It is also alleged that Dr Lawrence did not refer the patient to another therapist for counselling about whether to undergo a termination and when the patient asked him for a referral to another therapist he tried to persuade her to continue therapy with him. It is further alleged that Dr Lawrence's acts and omissions were inappropriate, not in the best interests of his patient, an abuse of his professional position and were sexually motivated.
Area of practice: Halifax
Planned dates: 6 September 2010 to 1 October 2010 St James's Buildings, 79 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6FQ
The Fitness to Practise Panel will meet at St James's Buildings, 79 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6FQ to consider a new case of impairment by reason of misconduct and deficient professional performance.
The Panel will inquire into the allegation that Dr Sadotra, a GP refused to undertake domiciliary visits, refused to see patients who had been previously examined by his GP partner, did not take appropriate histories from patients and did not make appropriate examinations of patients.
It is alleged that Dr Sadotra did not undertake or arrange further investigations when the patients history or his examination indicated that such was required. It is also alleged that the process by which Dr Sadotra decided what treatment to apply was inadequate, his prescribing of anti-inflammatory medication was contraindicated and that he prescribed antibiotics and linctus inappropriately.
It is alleged that Dr Sadotra did not make clear, accurate records in patients' medical records. It is also alleged that Dr Sadotra did not engage the practice nurse effectively as a member of the primary health care team, used clinically ineffective preparations when the use of such was not indicated and referred patients unnecessarily.
In relation to respect for patients, it is alleged that Dr Sadotra started clinics late, directed his staff that new patients were not to be admitted to his list unless they were of Indian origin, was abusive to patients and refused to examine infant patients who were crying. It is also alleged that Dr Sadotra bullied his staff and did not co-operate with his GP partner in the running of his practice.
It is alleged that Dr Sadotra was invited by the GMC to submit to an assessment of his professional performance on four occasions in 2009 and did not accept any of the invitations.
It is alleged that whilst Dr Sadotra's registration was suspended in 2009 by an Interim Orders Panel he inappropriately wrote letters to former patients informing them that the privacy and confidentiality of their medical records had been compromised and inviting them to contact him if they wished to take the matter further.
Area of practice: Cambridge
Planned dates: 7 - 16 September 2010 Regent's Place, 350 Euston Road, London NW1 3JN
The Fitness to Practise Panel will inquire into allegations that when Dr Madan Samuel, a Consultant in Paediatric Surgery, performed procedures on three babies he failed to use sterile equipment or wear gloves and that he disposed of used gauze in an inappropriate manner, thereby exposing his and other patients to the risk of infection. It is also alleged that by answering 'No' on an application form for employment to questions as to whether he was subject to fitness to practise investigations or removed from the Register or has conditions on his registration, Dr Samuel's actions were misleading and dishonest.
Area of practice: South Yorkshire
Planned dates: 7 - 24 September 2010 St James's Building, 79 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6FQ
The Fitness to Practise Panel will meet at St James's Building, 79 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6FQ to consider a new case of impairment by reason of misconduct and convictions.
The Panel will inquire into the allegation that, whilst Dr Amos was a general practitioner at Thurnscoe Medical Practice between 1995 and 2006, he received cheques to the sum of £20,000 from a patient to purchase medical equipment for the Practice that he did not purchase. It is also alleged that Dr Amos requested loans from another patient and from an associate of a former patient, from both of whom he received cheques. It is alleged that a number of his repayment cheques were dishonoured.
It is further alleged that Dr Amos' conduct was dishonest, misleading and an abuse of his professional position.
The Panel will also inquire into the allegation that, on 25 April 2008 at Barnsley Magistrates Court, Dr Amos was convicted of Theft, Obtaining property by deception, and 2 Counts of Fraud contrary to sections 1 and 2 of the Fraud Act 2006. It is further alleged that on 9 May 2008 at Sheffield Crown Court, Dr Amos pleaded guilty to 13 offences of fraud.
Area of practice: Glasgow
Planned dates: 9 to 10 September 2010 St James's Building, 79 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6FQ
The Fitness to Practise Panel will reconvene at St James's Building, 79 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6FQ to continue the consideration of a new case of impairment by reason of conviction.
On 5 January 2010 the Panel found it proved that on 4 February 2009, at Glasgow Justice of the Peace Court, Dr Sandhu was convicted of the offence of driving a motor vehicle with excess alcohol contrary to the Road Traffic Act 1988 Section 5 (1) (a). It was also found proved that following the above conviction Dr Sandhu was fined £200, disqualified from driving for 1 year and had his licence endorsed.
Area of practice: County Antrim
Planned dates: 10 September 2010 St James's Buildings, 79 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6FQ
The Fitness to Practise Panel will meet at St James's Buildings, 79 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6FQ to consider a review case of impairment by reason of misconduct.
The Panel will review the decision of a Fitness to Practise Panel hearing in September 2007 which determined to impose conditions on Dr Rea's registration for a period of three years.
Hearing reference: H1-323153401
Date: 9:30, Monday 6 September 2010 (One day)
Hearing Room (1st Floor) Address : General Medical Council, Regent's Place, 350 Euston Road, London NW1 3JN
This case will be considered by the Investigation Committee applying the General Medical Council's Fitness to Practise Rules 2004
The Investigation Committee (Oral hearing), will re-convene on Monday6 September 2010 at 9:30, in hearing room (1st floor), at the GMC offices at 350 Euston Road, London NW1 3JN, to consider whether it is appropriate to issue Dr Whale with a warning.
This case was previously adjourned by the Investigation Committee on 11 November 2009 to obtain further information, and relates to a complaint that in 2007 Dr Whale was consulted by a patient and did not arrange appropriate further investigations or referral. As a result, it is alleged that an opportunity to diagnose bladder cancer was delayed.
Area of Practice: Ipswich
Type of Case: Conduct
Dr Whale indicated that she is not prepared to accept a warning as originally proposed by GMC Case Examiners, and elected to have her case heard by the Investigation Committee at an Oral hearing. The Investigation Committee will consider the matters and will determine whether it would be appropriate to issue her with a warning.
To view current and forthcoming hearings see our Fitness to Practise hearings calendar.
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