"The period of your suspension will be four months. Such an order adequately addresses the findings of dishonesty and addresses the public interest, which includes maintaining of public confidence in the medical profession and declaring and upholding proper standards of conduct and behaviour."
THE INDEPENDENT;
"The mother of another of Hardy's victims condemned the panel's sanction, saying her family were "disgusted and horrified" that he had not been struck off.
Jackie Valad believes her daughter Elizabeth would still be alive if Patel had not concluded in his initial report that White had died of natural causes, because a police investigation would have been launched.
Hardy was sectioned but released later that year and went on to kill Valad, 29, and Bridgette Maclennan, 34, both sex workers. In November 2003, he was given three life sentences."
REPORTER JAMES MEIKLE; THE GUARDIAN;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: The Charles Smith saga - called by the Globe and Mail a series of earthquakes which exploded under Ontario's criminal justice system - has underlined the enormous harm that can be caused by an incompetent pathologist who is used to investigate criminal cases by the State. One of its lessons is that medical licensing bodies such as the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons in Ontario and the British Medical Council must scrutinize allegations made against such pathologists extremely carefully and hold them strictly to account where misconduct is found - that's what protecting the public is all about. Does this punishment protect the public? See this Blog over the next few days. I'm pondering...
HAROLD LEVY; PUBLISHER; THE CHARLES SMITH BLOG;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"A pathologist found guilty of serious misconduct over his post-mortem examination reports into the death of a victim of so-called "Camden Ripper" Anthony Hardy was suspended for four months today," the Independent story published earlier today under the heading, "Pathologist Freddy Patel handed suspension," begins.
"Dr Freddy Patel, 63, who was criticised over his part in the investigation into the death of Ian Tomlinson during the G20 protests, omitted autopsy findings which he considered not "relevant" when examining the body of 31-year-old prostitute Sally White," the story continues.
"A General Medical Council (GMC) panel ruled earlier this month that his fitness to practise was impaired and found him guilty of dishonesty regarding his CV.
It has now concluded that his behaviour was "fundamentally at odds" with the role and responsibilities expected of a doctor.
It said: "The Panel has determined that a period of suspension of your registration is appropriate and proportionate in your case.
"The period of your suspension will be four months. Such an order adequately addresses the findings of dishonesty and addresses the public interest, which includes maintaining of public confidence in the medical profession and declaring and upholding proper standards of conduct and behaviour."
The sanctions will take effect four weeks from when Dr Patel receives written notification of his suspension.
Earlier this month, the GMC panel found 29 allegations against Dr Patel's examination of Hardy's first victim were proved.
This included the assertion that he did not properly consider the location of her clothes, blood stains on her bedding and clothes or the location and position of Ms White's body in a locked room, in the flat of a recently-arrested man.
The panel said Dr Patel had an "inflexible approach" to his autopsy conclusions and gave "superficial" consideration to the possibility she was asphyxiated, which fell "below the standard expected for a competent forensic pathologist".
Dr Patel was suspended for three months last year in relation to separate allegations.
Following this ruling, he was required to take steps to prove he could be trusted to conduct post-mortem examinations on adults, name another pathologist to review his work and improve his knowledge of the law governing autopsies.
While the panel said his efforts went "some way" towards addressing its concerns, it said "more would have to be done" for it to be satisfied that his clinical abilities were "of a sufficient standard" to practise unrestricted.
His case will be considered before his suspension ends."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The story can be found at:
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/pathologist-freddy-patel-handed-suspension-2258229.html
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GUARDIAN STORY: G20 pathologist Freddy Patel suspended: Forensic examiner not allowed to practise for at least four months after botched postmortem delayed murder investigation; Reporter James Meikle;
"Pathologist Freddy Patel was suspended over his postmortem examination of 'Camden ripper' victim Pathologist Freddy Patel has been suspended due to serious misconduct over his postmortem examination of a victim of the 'Camden ripper' Anthony Hardy. Photograph: Fiona Hanson/PA
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 retraining courses, including on medical ethics, shadowed other pathologists and provided a satisfactory plan that might allow a supervised return to practise.
The mother of another of Hardy's victims condemned the panel's sanction, saying her family were "disgusted and horrified" that he had not been struck off.
Jackie Valad believes her daughter Elizabeth would still be alive if Patel had not concluded in his initial report that White had died of natural causes, because a police investigation would have been launched.
Hardy was sectioned but released later that year and went on to kill Valad, 29, and Bridgette Maclennan, 34, both sex workers. In November 2003, he was given three life sentences.
"It is just not right," said Jackie Valad. "I am sure Elizabeth would have been alive. Hardy would have been locked up. She was so beautiful, kind and reserved. It is heart-breaking she died at such a young age."
In October, the National Police Improvement Agency removed Patel from a register of pathologists who can be used in criminal investigations. Both the agency and the Home Office declined to comment.
A spokesperson for Patel said he intended to consider the panel's decision carefully with his advisers.
"He has been asked to give evidence at the Inquest into the death of Mr Tomlinson and does not think that it would be appropriate for him to comment on his involvement before the Inquest.""
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The story can be found at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/mar/31/g20-pathologist-freddy-patel-suspended
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be accessed at:
http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith
For a breakdown of some of the cases, issues and controversies this Blog is currently following, please turn to:
http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=120008354894645705&postID=8369513443994476774
Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog; hlevy15@gmail.com;
