Tribunal weighs fate of GP who risked patients' safety

By Theresa Garner

CAMBRIDGE - A doctor who risked patients' safety by reusing hypodermic needles and tampering with an after-hours emergency phone line could be struck off the medical register.

Dr Meredith White, a Cambridge GP, was ordered to undergo psychiatric and psychological assessments, after multiple charges were brought before the Medical Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal yesterday.

He had pleaded guilty to three counts of unbecoming conduct and two of professional misconduct.

But the tribunal ruled that some of Dr White's actions were serious enough to constitute disgraceful misconduct.

Dr White, who worked out of the Duke St Health and Medical Centre, last month voluntarily handed back his licence, and yesterday promised not to practise medicine for six months.

His lawyer, Alan Knowsley, told the hearing that Dr White was suffering from low-grade depression and needed time to get well before he began practising again.

Dr White had pleaded guilty for "his health's sake," even though he had a good defence for some charges.

The tribunal chairman, Dr Peter Cartwright, said: "It has been extremely difficult for us to assess whether his deplorable fall in standards is due to a combination of mental and physical ill health, or whether Dr White has simply forgotten the standards he learned and acquired."

The tribunal ordered immediate interim suspension, and reserved its final decision on Dr White's fate pending the medical assessments.

If the reports were not satisfactory, "we would seriously consider the option of strike-off," said Dr Cartwright.

"We are appalled at what has gone on."

Dr White did not challenge statements by former patients and staff that said he had changed medication without check-ups, prescribed without explaining side-effects, and incorrectly labelled specimens.

He had failed to follow up cervical smear results, had reused hypodermic needles, and used unsterile instruments, thus exposing his patients to risk of cross-infection.

He allowed his girlfriend to sit in on consultations and surgery, talked about his patients in front of other members of the public, and consistently used offensive language to patients and staff.

In August 1997, he shouted and swore at an elderly couple who had changed doctors.

In December that year, he deliberately interfered with the after-hours emergency phone service at the medical centre, preventing patients' access.

Dr Alfred Pinfold, who shared a building with Dr White, said his practice was completely separate.