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How easy is it to fake it as a doctor? | How easy is it to fake it as a doctor? |
(about 2 hours later) | |
TV viewers of new BBC drama Trust Me, in which a nurse fakes it as a doctor, have been left wondering whether it could happen in real life. | TV viewers of new BBC drama Trust Me, in which a nurse fakes it as a doctor, have been left wondering whether it could happen in real life. |
If you didn't catch it, Cath Hardacre, played by Jodie Whittaker, is sacked as a nurse so steals her best friend's identity to become a senior doctor. | If you didn't catch it, Cath Hardacre, played by Jodie Whittaker, is sacked as a nurse so steals her best friend's identity to become a senior doctor. |
The psychological thriller shows her attempt to fake it as an experienced emergency doctor, relying only on her nursing knowledge and medical textbooks. | The psychological thriller shows her attempt to fake it as an experienced emergency doctor, relying only on her nursing knowledge and medical textbooks. |
The show's writer Dan Sefton - a real-life A&E doctor - says it's not that hard to do if you have some qualifications. | |
"I think there are loads of people who aren't real doctors," Sefton told the BBC. | "I think there are loads of people who aren't real doctors," Sefton told the BBC. |
There was once a bogus doctor working at his own hospital, he said, who was "actually pretty competent". | There was once a bogus doctor working at his own hospital, he said, who was "actually pretty competent". |
"Often these doctors are very professional and get along very well with their colleagues. The only flaw is that they aren't real doctors," he added. | "Often these doctors are very professional and get along very well with their colleagues. The only flaw is that they aren't real doctors," he added. |
Since 2006, 12 people have been charged under the Medical Act 1983 with pretending to be registered as a doctor, Crown Prosecution Service figures show. | Since 2006, 12 people have been charged under the Medical Act 1983 with pretending to be registered as a doctor, Crown Prosecution Service figures show. |
It's not known how many of them went on to be prosecuted. | It's not known how many of them went on to be prosecuted. |
It is possible that other bogus doctors have been apprehended too, but were charged under the broader offence in the Fraud Act 2006 of impersonation and giving false or misleading information. | It is possible that other bogus doctors have been apprehended too, but were charged under the broader offence in the Fraud Act 2006 of impersonation and giving false or misleading information. |
This makes it harder to extract figures for doctors. | This makes it harder to extract figures for doctors. |
Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, has some reassuring words for anxious TV viewers. | |
"It's incredibly rare for people to masquerade as doctors in the NHS. | "It's incredibly rare for people to masquerade as doctors in the NHS. |
"The numbers involved are negligible, so patients should not feel concerned that there's any substantial prospect of being seen by someone falsely claiming to be a doctor." | "The numbers involved are negligible, so patients should not feel concerned that there's any substantial prospect of being seen by someone falsely claiming to be a doctor." |
However, it has happened occasionally, as these examples show. | However, it has happened occasionally, as these examples show. |
Stethoscopes and scrubs | Stethoscopes and scrubs |
Last year, mother-of-four Sarah Caine twice posed as a doctor and stole medical equipment from Lister Hospital in Stevenage, the Telegraph reported. | Last year, mother-of-four Sarah Caine twice posed as a doctor and stole medical equipment from Lister Hospital in Stevenage, the Telegraph reported. |
She even posted photos on Facebook, one of herself dressed in surgical scrubs and another with a stethoscope draped around her neck. | She even posted photos on Facebook, one of herself dressed in surgical scrubs and another with a stethoscope draped around her neck. |
On Twitter in 2014, she pondered which direction her medical ambitions might take her. | On Twitter in 2014, she pondered which direction her medical ambitions might take her. |
NHS staff caught her out the second time round, and the police were called. | NHS staff caught her out the second time round, and the police were called. |
Magistrates banned her from every hospital in the UK - except in "genuine medical emergencies" - until sentencing. | Magistrates banned her from every hospital in the UK - except in "genuine medical emergencies" - until sentencing. |
She was given a £440 fine after she admitted impersonating a doctor and stealing medical equipment. | She was given a £440 fine after she admitted impersonating a doctor and stealing medical equipment. |
His CV was 'a work of fiction' | His CV was 'a work of fiction' |
Abdul Pirzada, an asylum seeker from Afghanistan, invented a glittering medical career history that allowed him to work as a practice nurse in Birmingham for seven years, as a locum GP and a physician's assistant. | Abdul Pirzada, an asylum seeker from Afghanistan, invented a glittering medical career history that allowed him to work as a practice nurse in Birmingham for seven years, as a locum GP and a physician's assistant. |
Within months of arriving in the UK in 2001, he joined the doctors' union BMA as a refugee member, claiming to be a qualified doctor. | Within months of arriving in the UK in 2001, he joined the doctors' union BMA as a refugee member, claiming to be a qualified doctor. |
This meant he could access online courses, which gave him a superficial air of legitimacy, the CPS said. | This meant he could access online courses, which gave him a superficial air of legitimacy, the CPS said. |
His CV, which prosecutors described as "almost entirely a work of fiction", claimed he had worked as a doctor in Bosnia and Glasgow, and was registered as a doctor in Pakistan. | His CV, which prosecutors described as "almost entirely a work of fiction", claimed he had worked as a doctor in Bosnia and Glasgow, and was registered as a doctor in Pakistan. |
Pirzada gained work at three medical practices in Birmingham between 2004 and 2011, where he performed blood tests on patients and even prescribed medication. | Pirzada gained work at three medical practices in Birmingham between 2004 and 2011, where he performed blood tests on patients and even prescribed medication. |
His deception came to light when a pharmacist spotted that his name on a prescription did not appear on the NHS-approved list, the CPS said. | His deception came to light when a pharmacist spotted that his name on a prescription did not appear on the NHS-approved list, the CPS said. |
In 2012, he was jailed for 15 months after admitting two counts of fraud and one of obtaining a financial advantage by deception. | In 2012, he was jailed for 15 months after admitting two counts of fraud and one of obtaining a financial advantage by deception. |
Forged documents | Forged documents |
Two years ago Levon Mkhitarian pleaded guilty to fraud after impersonating a doctor. | Two years ago Levon Mkhitarian pleaded guilty to fraud after impersonating a doctor. |
Mkhitarian, originally from Georgia, had failed to complete his medical training but continued to apply for doctors' jobs. | |
In 2014, he was struck off the GMC register after being caught sending an email pretending to be the GMC. | |
With no job to go to, Mkhitarian forged documents so he could apply for locum positions through agencies. | |
He assumed the identity of another doctor, who was practising at the time, and made up a CV, bank statements, a medical degree and training certificates. | |
Under his false identity, Mkhitarian treated 3,000 patients on cancer, transplant, general surgery, cardiology and elderly wards, and was on call in A&E. | |
That was until HR staff at the William Harvey Hospital, in Ashford, tried to create a personal smart card for him. | |
A database showed one had already been issued in his assumed name, but with a different photograph. | |
One investigating police officer told Canterbury Crown Court the risk of harm to patients was "not high but nevertheless his actions were selfish and reckless". | One investigating police officer told Canterbury Crown Court the risk of harm to patients was "not high but nevertheless his actions were selfish and reckless". |
Mkhitarian was jailed for six years. | Mkhitarian was jailed for six years. |
The General Medical Council says the onus is on employers to thoroughly check a doctor's identity and qualifications before recruiting them. | The General Medical Council says the onus is on employers to thoroughly check a doctor's identity and qualifications before recruiting them. |
There are currently 270,000 doctors named on its UK medical register, which carries details of where the doctor studied, when they registered and whether they hold a licence. | There are currently 270,000 doctors named on its UK medical register, which carries details of where the doctor studied, when they registered and whether they hold a licence. |
The GMC carries out its own checks before allowing a doctor to register, including on their identity and qualifications, as well as checks with the doctor's medical school and previous employers. | |
Staff at the GMC also help employers by taking photos of doctors during a face-to-face identity check when they apply to register. These can then be sent on to hospitals to confirm the new recruit's identity. | Staff at the GMC also help employers by taking photos of doctors during a face-to-face identity check when they apply to register. These can then be sent on to hospitals to confirm the new recruit's identity. |
NHS Employers says there are six checks which must be made before giving a doctor a job: | NHS Employers says there are six checks which must be made before giving a doctor a job: |
Trust Me is available on BBC iPlayer and continues on BBC One on 15 August. | Trust Me is available on BBC iPlayer and continues on BBC One on 15 August. |
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