GP caught at 96mph is suspended from job
A DOCTOR caught speeding at 96mph on a dual carriageway has been suspended from practising for three months.
Dr Murray Will’s ‘reckless’ conduct was condemned after he racked up a string of driving convictions – including using his mobile phone at the wheel.
The GP has also been convicted of driving without due care and attention after he fell asleep at the wheel and ploughing into another vehicle.
Dr Will, of Glasgow, failed to disclose his convictions to regulatory body the General Medical Council (GMC) and later said he thought he could ‘get away with it’.
His case has now been heard by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service. He faced being struck off but the disciplinary panel instead suspended his registration for three months.
Dr Will, 33, was working at the Riverside Medical Practice in Patna, Ayrshire, when co-workers found out about the offences. A senior colleague, known as Dr A, advised him to contact the GMC but he failed to do so and staff at the practice reported him.
Philip Barlow, chairman of the disciplinary tribunal, said: ‘The tribunal considered it very surprising that in May 2014, with an appearance at the Ayr court pending a few months later, you were caught speeding at 96mph on a road with a 70mph speed limit.
‘In isolation this would be a serious offence due to the risk to which you exposed other road users.
‘However, when taken in context – by this point you had been caught and penalised for previous road traffic offences – the tribunal found it to be nothing short of reckless that you would behave in this manner.
‘It considered an informed member of the public would be shocked to learn that a doctor had repeatedly broken the law in the manner you have. Your behaviour was aggravated through an element of repetition in terms of both driving offences and your decision not to report them to the GMC.’
Mr Barlow added: ‘Further, you wilfully ignored advice from both the GMC and Dr A. Your actions placed your colleagues at the practice in the invidious position of having to report you themselves.
‘In all the circumstances, the tribunal determined to suspend your registration for three months. The tribunal took into account the seriousness of your actions and the need to demonstrate clearly to you, the profession and the public that your actions were unacceptable.’
Dr Will was fined £300 and given six penalty points in February 2011 after he fell asleep while driving at around 60mph on the M77 near Glasgow.
His car hit another vehicle, causing damage to both.
In October 2013, police saw him driving while using a large touchscreen mobile phone.
He was fined £150 and banned from driving for six months at Ayr Sheriff Court.
In May 2014, he was clocked on the A77 near Kilmarnock driving at 96mph. The following March he appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court and was fined £800 and received a 75-day driving ban.
Dr Will reported his first conviction to the GMC but did not notify them of any others. In a statement to the tribunal he said he thought he would ‘get away with it’.
The tribunal stopped sort of striking him off because he is a doctor at a relatively early stage in his career and could ‘return to clinical practice and provide a valuable service to patients’.
‘Repeatedly broken the law’