Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Doctor struck off over tragic Claire’s death
A DOCTOR who sought to cover up the cause of death of a nine-year-old patient has been struck off.
A Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service panel yesterday decided the appropriate sanction for Dr Heather Steen was erasure after it earlier found her fitness to practise was impaired.
Claire Roberts’ parents were told at the time of her death in 1996 a viral infection had spread from her stomach to her brain.
But a public inquiry in 2018 determined she had died from an overdose of fluids and medication caused by negligent care.
Tribunal chair Sean Ell said: “Public confidence would be undermined if a finding of impairment was not made.”