Pathologist Freddy Patel suspended

Forensic examiner not allowed to practise for at least four months after botched postmortem delayed murder investigation The pathologist Dr Freddy Patel whose botched postmortem examination led to a delayed murder investigation has been suspended from the medical register for at least four months. The General Medical Council had pressed for him to be struck off but an independent fitness to practise panel in London determined that suspension for his misconduct and dishonesty would be “appropriate and proportionate”. The council said Patel, 63, had been reluctant to consider asphyxiation in the murder case, had falsified his CV and failed to redress previous shortcomings. But lawyers for the forensic examiner argued he had taken steps to improve his professional conduct, and the panel accepted that his dishonesty fell towards the “lower end” of the spectrum. Patel was suspended from the register for three months last September because of his performance in other cases. He has also been criticised for suggesting the newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson died of natural causes during the G20 protests in London in 2009. Earlier this month, the disciplinary panel found Patel’s 2002 reports on the death of Sally White – the first victim of the “Camden ripper” Anthony Hardy – were “irresponsible, not of the standard expected of a competent forensic pathologist and liable to bring the medical profession into disrepute”. Patel decided that White, a 31-year-old sex worker, had died of natural causes despite blood staining her clothing, bedding and a wall at Hardy’s flat. Patel said she had died of a heart attack during consensual sex. This discouraged a police investigation that might have saved two later victims of Hardy, an earlier hearing was told. Patel will not be allowed to practise until his case is reviewed and another panel is satisfied he has identified and remedied deficiencies, proven he has attended a course on medical ethics, shadowed other pathologists and provided a satisfactory plan that might allow a supervised return to practise. Dr Freddy Patel Crime Police G20 London Ian Tomlinson James Meikle guardian.co.uk

Posted by on March 31, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.