Nearly 1,000 doctors could still be practising despite convictions for possessing child porn and drug trafficking
- Medical bosses cannot ban some doctors because it could breach their human rights
By RYAN KISIEL
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Conviction: Dr Benjamin Obukofe (left) was convicted of two sexual assaults
Hundreds of doctors convicted of serious crimes – including obtaining indecent images of children – have been allowed to continue to practise, it has emerged.
A total of 927 have kept their jobs despite being found guilty of offences including trafficking drugs, kerb crawling and causing death by dangerous driving.
And thousands of patients have been kept in the dark about their doctor’s serious convictions.
It is believed that some of the medics who have not been struck off the professional register after being found guilty of downloading child pornography are still treating minors.
But the General Medical Council says that it cannot automatically strike off those on the sex offenders’ register in case doing so breaches their human rights
The figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act also reveal that none of the physicians’ patients has been informed about their convictions.
It found 25 had been convicted of actual bodily harm and three for grievous bodily harm.
Three doctors were found with indecent images of children, two of causing death by dangerous driving and two of trafficking drugs.
Patients are not being told about the disgraced physicians, surgeons and GPs, who are still working in surgeries and hospitals across the country (file photo)
Another two have convictions for cruelty to children, nine for attacking their partners, five for harassment and two for possessing offensive weapons.
A doctor made threats to kill, another was found guilty of perverting the course of justice and five were guilty of fraud.
A further eight medics were convicted of kerb crawling. Some of them had more than one conviction.
The largest number – 296 – was for drink-driving offences.
Some 182 have been convicted of dangerous driving.
Some 182 have been convicted of dangerous driving.
Critics yesterday said that patients should be told if their GP or surgeon has been convicted of a serious crime. Roger Gross, of Patient Concern, said: ‘Patients should be made aware if their doctor is found guilty of serious criminal offences that could affect their care and be allowed to make up their own minds if they want to risk being treated by them.
‘The problem is that the GMC is funded by doctors while their prime duty is to protect patients – but these two things often come into conflict.’
Dr Benjamin Obukofe was found guilty by a court last year of sexually assaulting two colleagues, including a girl of 17, at Spire Hospital in Leicestershire.
Suspension: Sudhakar Siriama was allowed to carry on working despite squeezing the breast of a junior member of staff at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham
Although the married father was given a suspended sentence and put on the sex offenders’ register, he was not struck off and will be free to work next year.
The GMC ruled that although his convictions were ‘serious’ they were not deemed to be ‘fundamentally incompatible’ with continuing to practise medicine.
Under the law, doctors have to be examined by the GMC after receiving a caution or conviction.
However, in many cases the watchdog allows them to continue to practise while it issues them with a warning or temporary suspension.
The GMC has no access to the sex offenders’ register and relies upon the police to inform its officials of court sentences.
It said that it looked at applying an automatic ban for medics on the sex offenders’ register, but decided against the move after legal advice said it might breach their human rights.
Individual NHS trusts are free to take their own action against convicted doctors.
Health chiefs at the GMC said they were still looking for a way to impose an automatic ban on sex offenders.
Niall Dickson, chief executive of the General Medical Council, said: ‘Our job is to protect patients by ensuring that only doctors who are fit to practise are able to do so.
‘The number of licensed doctors with criminal convictions is extremely small and in the vast majority of cases these are either subject to restrictions on their practice or struck off.’
CRIMES COMMITTED BY OUR DOCTORS
Possession of indecent photo of child 2
Take or make indecent image of child 1
Criminal damage 4
Dangerous driving (not drink) 182
Driving under the influence of drink 296
Driving under the influence of drugs 4
Failing to provide a specimen for analysis 25
Possession of controlled drugs 15
Trafficking of controlled drugs 2
Driving without tax/insurance 71
Failing to disclose 18
Forgery 24
Fraud 5
Causing death by dangerous/careless driving 2
Health and safety offences 2
Other notable offences 23
Perjury 1
Perverting the course of justice 1
Protection from eviction 1
Soliciting for the purpose of prostitution 8
Concealing the truth 2
Handling stolen goods 1
Theft 9
Theft employee 2
Actual bodily harm 25
Cruelty or neglect of children 2
Domestic violence 9
Grievous bodily harm 3
Harassment 5
Other offences against the state or public order 8
Possession of dangerous weapons 2
Threats to kill 1
Pre 2008 convictions not categorised 257
Pre 2008 convictions not categorised 257
Source: Daily Mirror
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