Doctor Struck Off for Veil Dispute and Ignoring Suspension

A GP, Dr. Keith Wolverson, has been permanently struck off the medical register following a decision by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal. This action stems from repeated instances of misconduct, including asking a Muslim woman to remove her niqab during a consultation in May 2018, which she found discriminatory. He later claimed this was due to her poor English and difficulty understanding her, a statement deemed dishonest by the tribunal.

Further concerns arose when Dr. Wolverson continued to undertake medical work during his nine-month suspension, beginning in October 2022. This defied explicit advice from a misconduct panel and demonstrated a 'flagrant disregard' for the regulatory process. He also failed to attend his own tribunal hearing.

The tribunal noted a significant lack of insight and remediation from Dr. Wolverson regarding his actions. His prolonged absence from practice since 2022 also raised concerns about deskilling and a potential risk to patient safety. Ultimately, his continued disengagement and failure to address the seriousness of his misconduct undermined public confidence, leading to the decision to strike him off to protect the public.