GP killed himself after allegations of sexual assault Doctor took heroin overdose after launch of investigation
ABIRMINGHAM GP killed himself with a heroin overdose just hours after discovering he was under police investigation for sexually assaulting two patients.
Philip Schuppler, 58, was found dead at his Solihull flat on November 1 after police forced their way inside.
Officers were alerted after the doctor’s son received a suicidal text message from his father, a partner at Swanswell Medical Centre in Acocks Green. The GP was discovered hours after NHS bosses had asked him to voluntarily suspend practising after informing him that he investigation.
An inquest into his death heard police had been investigating Dr Schuppler since September. Sussex Police had received a complaint of a historical sexual assault in September and had contacted colleagues in the West Midlands.
West Midlands Police spoke to both NHS England and the General Medical Council about the initial complaint, but it was agreed that the doctor would not be informed until the victim had provided an official account.
Then a second complainant spoke to West Midlands Police on October 31, also making allegations of sexual assault. Dr Schuppler was informed the following day and took his own life. was under police
Detective Inspector Wes Martin said: “A detective attempted to make contact at 3pm on November 1 to arrange an interview, but there was no answer. He left a message on his answerphone and asked him to call back.
“At 5.22pm Dr Schuppler’s son called police to say he had received a suicidal text message from his father. Officers arrived at his apartment, forced entry and found him with an empty syringe next to him at 5.56pm.”
Dr Francis Campbell, associate medical director of NHS England for the West Midlands, said: “He was already aware of the criminal investigation because another doctor at the practice had informed him about one of the allegations. He agreed to come and see me to sign a voluntary agreement that he would not work.
“I was concerned that he seemed very distressed and he was very apologetic. I informed police about my concerns of self-harm and I contacted the Clinical Commissioning Group to ask partners to support him.”
Toxicology tests found a potentially lethal level of morphine in his blood and found he died as a result of a heroin overdose.
Recording a verdict of suicide, Assistant Coroner Elisabeth Bussey-Jones said: “Dr Schuppler was aware that he was the subject of an active police investigation.
“From the fact of the text message and items found beside him, it was apparent the death was due to a deliberate overdose.”