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Doctor's Driver Examined Patient; Doctor Got Warning
15 Mar
Summary
- A doctor allowed his driver to examine a patient, receiving only a warning.
- The incident occurred in February 2024, involving a young mother during a home visit.
- Other doctors faced warnings for serious misconduct, including sexual harassment.
A doctor who permitted his driver to perform a breast examination on a young mother has received a warning from the General Medical Council (GMC). Dr. Godfrey Nkanu Emiku, based in Luton, was involved in the February 2024 incident while working for Hertfordshire Urgent Care. The driver, not a trained clinician, examined the patient during a home visit, and Dr. Emiku did not stop him or conduct the examination himself.
The breach only came to light when the driver reported the incident to a receptionist. The GMC issued Dr. Emiku a warning, citing his 'insight' and deeming him a low future risk. Hertfordshire Urgent Care stated that both Dr. Emiku and the driver are no longer employed by them and that an investigation was conducted.
This case is part of a larger trend, with 109 doctors disciplined by the GMC or Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) in the past year. Other serious cases include a consultant anaesthetist having sex with a nurse during surgery and a gynaecologist facing over 100 claims of inappropriate behaviour. Some doctors who removed ovaries without consent or misdiagnosed patients also received warnings.
The GMC has appealed some MPTS decisions to issue only warnings, emphasizing that a warning signifies a serious finding of falling short of professional standards and remains on a doctor's record for two years. Their appeals aim to ensure public protection where they believe a warning is insufficient.
