STORY: "Ian Tomlinson tribunal: pathologist failed in main areas, says expert," by reporter Helen Carter, published in the Guardian on August 15, 2012.
GIST: "A disciplinary panel said on Monday that Patel was dishonest and "liable to bring his profession into disrepute". In his initial postmortem report, Patel said Tomlinson had died of coronary artery disease. But questions were raised after footage obtained by the Guardian showed Tomlinson being struck with a baton and falling to the ground and a second report was written by the pathologist. The panel said the cause of death determined by Patel in the case was wrong and it described his conduct as misleading. Findings identified a total of 68 failings in the case by the pathologist. The panel will determine if Patel's fitness to practise was impaired by reason of misconduct and/or deficient professional performance and will consider whether he should be allowed to continue as a pathologist, be suspended or struck off the medical register. The panel will review a 10-week suspension of Patel's registration, which was directed in May. An inquest jury found Tomlinson had been unlawfully killed, and a number of pathologists gave evidence that he died of internal bleeding. None of them agreed with Patel's opinion on the cause of death. The police officer who struck Tomlinson and pushed him to the ground, PC Simon Harwood, was last month cleared of manslaughter following a trial. The officer claimed he had used reasonable force. Last year, Patel was given a four-month ban for dishonesty and omitting key findings after examining the body of a murder victim who he said had died from natural causes."
The entire story can be found at:
PUBLISHER'S NOTE:
I am monitoring this case. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments.
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 found at:
http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith
Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at:
http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html
Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com
Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog.
