Struck off for slapping patient who was abusive
A HOSPITAL consultant with an unblemished 40-year career has been struck off after slapping an abusive patient.
Dominic McCreadie, 64, was examining the unnamed pensioner in A&E when the man began flailing his arms around and using offensive language.
The doctor slapped the 66-year-old in the face, at which he ‘calmed down’ enough to be given an injection, a disciplinary hearing was told.
Although the patient was not injured, a junior doctor reported Dr McCreadie, originally from Glasgow, to trust bosses. When interviewed by police, the consultant denied slapping.
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service accepted that the incident was ‘a single aberration in an otherwise long and unblemished career’, but found Dr McCreadie guilty of misconduct. He agreed to be removed from the medical register.
The consultant was in the A&E department of New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, in October 2012 when the ‘confused’ patient arrived.
Chris Hamlet, for the General Medical Council, told the hearing that trainee Dr Aliakbhar Mohamedbhai asked Dr McCreadie to help inject the man, who was being ‘verbally aggressive and physically resistant’.
Dr Mohamedbhai, 29, told the panel: ‘I had to restrain his left arm to get access. Dr McCreadie then decided to carry out a further and more thorough examination. This provoked more aggressive behaviour … As the consultant felt this was inappropriate he landed his right arm on the patient’s left cheek in an attempt to calm him down … He was flailing his arms and using offensive language.’
Dr Mohamedbhai said the man ‘ calmed down significantly and immediately’ after the slap.
He added that a nurse ‘ asked me whether what had happened was appropriate, and the only comment I made was, “Not in my opinion”.’
Mr Hamlet told the hearing an expert concluded such a slap would ‘fall seriously below the standard of a consultant in emergency medicine’.
In a statement Dr McCreadie said: ‘During the process of restraint and trying to hold his arm still I attempted to stop his shouting … closing his mouth with my hand under his chin. I am informed that this has been interpreted as slapping.’
Panel chairman Dr Linda Buchanan said: ‘Dr McCreadie was faced with a difficult patient and this was a oneoff single incident in a long career with no previous complaints … However, striking a patient … is a breach of the fundamental tenet of the profession to make the care of one’s patient one’s first concern.’
Dr McCreadie agreed to ‘voluntary erasure’ from the register. He would have to apply for reinstatement to practise – but had announced the year before the incident his intention to retire. He declined to comment at his home near Warwick yesterday.
West Midlands Police said he was interviewed over an alleged assault but no further action was taken.
‘Attempt to calm him down’