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Dr Mansoor Kassim sentenced for faking Viagra scripts | Dr Mansoor Kassim sentenced for faking Viagra scripts |
(3 days later) | |
A doctor with "marital difficulties" forged prescriptions for Viagra because he was too embarrassed to see his GP. | A doctor with "marital difficulties" forged prescriptions for Viagra because he was too embarrassed to see his GP. |
Dr Mansoor Kassim, 37, who worked at Ystrad Fawr Hospital near Caerphilly, faked £340.67 worth of scripts, Newport magistrates heard. | Dr Mansoor Kassim, 37, who worked at Ystrad Fawr Hospital near Caerphilly, faked £340.67 worth of scripts, Newport magistrates heard. |
He was given a suspended jail sentence after admitting four charges of making a false prescription, two of theft by an employee and one of fraud. | He was given a suspended jail sentence after admitting four charges of making a false prescription, two of theft by an employee and one of fraud. |
His barrister said Kassim made a significant error and was "ashamed". | |
Kassim, from Ilford in Essex, received an eight-month sentence, suspended for a year. | Kassim, from Ilford in Essex, received an eight-month sentence, suspended for a year. |
The court heard Kassim, who could be struck off by the General Medical Council, took the fake prescriptions for sildenafil, better known as Viagra, to a chemist to collect the tablets himself. | The court heard Kassim, who could be struck off by the General Medical Council, took the fake prescriptions for sildenafil, better known as Viagra, to a chemist to collect the tablets himself. |
Staff became suspicious because Kassim worked in a trauma and orthopaedic unit, where patients would not normally need drugs for impotence. | Staff became suspicious because Kassim worked in a trauma and orthopaedic unit, where patients would not normally need drugs for impotence. |
Health chiefs brought in handwriting experts who discovered the stolen prescription forms had been filled in by the father-of-two. | Health chiefs brought in handwriting experts who discovered the stolen prescription forms had been filled in by the father-of-two. |
The court was told he began forging prescriptions on the second day of his employment at the hospital. | The court was told he began forging prescriptions on the second day of his employment at the hospital. |
Rob Simkins, prosecuting, said: "The NHS counter-fraud team found theft, forging and fraud. | Rob Simkins, prosecuting, said: "The NHS counter-fraud team found theft, forging and fraud. |
"It involves a considerable breach of trust by Kassim who was employed by the NHS as a senior doctor. | "It involves a considerable breach of trust by Kassim who was employed by the NHS as a senior doctor. |
"He stole prescription forms from the trauma and orthopaedic units. These were forged in the names of ghost patients who did not exist. | "He stole prescription forms from the trauma and orthopaedic units. These were forged in the names of ghost patients who did not exist. |
"The names of the doctors on the forms were equally fictitious. They were then presented to obtain the Viagra. | "The names of the doctors on the forms were equally fictitious. They were then presented to obtain the Viagra. |
'Great deal of shame' | 'Great deal of shame' |
"But suspicions were raised because Viagra would not normally be prescribed by trauma and orthopaedic units." | "But suspicions were raised because Viagra would not normally be prescribed by trauma and orthopaedic units." |
Some of the prescriptions were discovered during a search of his Range Rover. | Some of the prescriptions were discovered during a search of his Range Rover. |
The court heard he was a senior doctor who was about to become a consultant when he illegally obtained the drug. | The court heard he was a senior doctor who was about to become a consultant when he illegally obtained the drug. |
Lee Gledhill, defending, said: "He is ashamed and embarrassed. | Lee Gledhill, defending, said: "He is ashamed and embarrassed. |
"Ordinarily he is a professional with high standards. It was a significant error of judgement in prescribing this anti-impotence drug. | "Ordinarily he is a professional with high standards. It was a significant error of judgement in prescribing this anti-impotence drug. |
"He comes from a traditional Indian community and his background is really quite prudish. | "He comes from a traditional Indian community and his background is really quite prudish. |
"It was shameful, given his cultural backgrounds, to be inadequate in the bedroom. He feels a great deal of shame now this problems have been revealed publicly." | "It was shameful, given his cultural backgrounds, to be inadequate in the bedroom. He feels a great deal of shame now this problems have been revealed publicly." |
The court heard Kassim has received counselling over his "cultural heritage" and now has a legitimate Viagra prescription. | The court heard Kassim has received counselling over his "cultural heritage" and now has a legitimate Viagra prescription. |
The offences happened between 25 February and 24 October 2013 when Kassim was employed by the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, | The offences happened between 25 February and 24 October 2013 when Kassim was employed by the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, |
He was ordered to pay compensation of £347 for the Viagra and £2,561 for the cost of the NHS investigation. | He was ordered to pay compensation of £347 for the Viagra and £2,561 for the cost of the NHS investigation. |
Magistrate Alan Penfold said it was "a serious breach of trust". | Magistrate Alan Penfold said it was "a serious breach of trust". |
Martyn Edwards, head of counter fraud with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, said: "The NHS and the public in general are entitled to expect the highest levels of integrity from clinicians. | Martyn Edwards, head of counter fraud with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, said: "The NHS and the public in general are entitled to expect the highest levels of integrity from clinicians. |
"In this instance, the conduct of Dr Kassim fell far short of those expectations. | "In this instance, the conduct of Dr Kassim fell far short of those expectations. |
"The NHS has absolutely no tolerance for dishonest abuse of a position of trust of this nature." | "The NHS has absolutely no tolerance for dishonest abuse of a position of trust of this nature." |
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