The High Court has upheld an appeal by a doctor against a Medical Council decision striking him off, arising from a complaint that he carried out an unnecessary internal investigation on a teenage girl more than 15 years ago.
The doctor was struck off after it was alleged he had, in early 1996, conducted an internal investigation on a 17-year-old girl after she sought a prescription for the morning-after pill. Yesterday, president of the High Court Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns ruled the doctor was prejudiced due to the 14-year delay between the alleged misconduct and the bringing of a complaint to the Medical Council.
Last January, the Medical Council, following a hearing by its fitness to practise committee, struck off the doctor for misconduct. He has operated a busy practice for decades.
The doctor, who had denied the allegation against him and said he had no recollection of ever treating the complainant, appealed the Medical Council’s decision to the High Court.