Ian Tomlinson pathologist Freddy Patel struck off
Patel found guilty of misconduct and banned from practising as a doctor for catalogue of errors dating back more than a decade Description: Freddy Patel The tribunal told Freddy Patel he had an 'unwarranted confidence' in his own ability. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA Freddy Patel, the pathologist who wrongly said <http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/g20-police-assault-ian-tomlinson> Ian Tomlinson died as a result of heart disease, has been struck off the medical register over a catalogue of errors dating back more than a decade. A tribunal of the General Medical Council (GMC) said that it had no option but to erase Patel from the register after findings earlier this week of dishonesty as well as incompetence. Patel, who qualified at the University of Zambia in 1974 and has practised as a pathologist for 35 years, was found guilty of misconduct but was not at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS), sitting in Manchester. He was excused attendance to look after his sick wife but listened in on the hearing by conference call from London. The Rev Robert Lloyd-Richards, the chairman of the MPTS fitness to practise panel, which heard the case, told Patel he had an "unwarranted confidence" in his ability, "a deep-seated attitudinal problem" and also "lacked insight". "Your rigid mind-set, illustrated by your inability to reflect on the case of Mr Tomlinson, and your unwarranted confidence in your own abilities, does not convince this panel that it would be appropriate to impose conditions, even with the most stringent supervision, on your registration," said the written determination from the MPTS. "The panel considers that you have a deep-seated attitudinal problem." Patel had tried to cover up his mistakes both in relation to Tomlinson and also to an earlier postmortem, of a woman referred to as Miss E. He first appeared in front of a professional conduct committee in 2002 and in front of two fitness to practise committees in 2010 and 2011. He had been suspended from working twice. Counsel for Patel argued that he should be allowed to stay on the medical register and practise under supervision, because pathologists with 30 years' experience were in short supply. But the panel considered his erasure was necessary to protect the public. "The panel is not satisfied that you have significant insight into your failings and is not satisfied that there is no risk of repetition," it told Patel. "In reaching this conclusion the panel reminded itself that you failed to recognise any contrary view to your conclusion as to the cause of death of Mr Tomlinson, even when this was robustly challenged by three pathologists, and your strong assertion that all the matters relating to Mr Tomlinson were within your own knowledge." Tomlinson, 47, died on 1 April 2009 after he became caught up in the G20 protests in the City of London as he tried to get home and was pushed over by PC Simon Harwood. Patel carried out the postmortem on Tomlinson and concluded that he died from a heart attack, but questions were raised when an American tourist came forward with a video recording of him being hit. Further medical reports suggested that Tomlinson died from an injury to his liver that caused internal bleeding and then cardiac arrest. At the inquest into Tomlinson's death, Patel's claim that he died of a heart attack was discredited by the jury in favour of the string of experts who said he died of internal bleeding. The panel found Patel had caused harm to public confidence through his failures on five postmortems, on Tomlinson but also on Miss E, Baby C, Miss B and Mrs D. He could also have caused harm by failing to detect "clandestine homicide" in his autopsies. And his dishonesty in itself was grounds for erasure. Patel was told "your integrity cannot be relied upon". Thé Mulindwas Communication Group "With Yoweri Museveni and Dr. Kiiza Besigye Uganda is in anarchy" Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi "Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni na Dk. Kiiza Besigye Uganda ni katika machafuko"
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