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Dr Arun Singhal suspended for telling patient to kill herself | Dr Arun Singhal suspended for telling patient to kill herself |
(1 day later) | |
A doctor who told a patient who was threatening to kill herself to "go and jolly well do it now" has been suspended for three months. | A doctor who told a patient who was threatening to kill herself to "go and jolly well do it now" has been suspended for three months. |
The actions of Dr Arun Singhal, a GP in Huyton, Liverpool, amounted to serious misconduct, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) found. | The actions of Dr Arun Singhal, a GP in Huyton, Liverpool, amounted to serious misconduct, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) found. |
He also told the woman she could look up how to kill herself on the internet. | He also told the woman she could look up how to kill herself on the internet. |
Dr Singhal was unaware that she had recorded the conversation on her mobile phone. He did not attend the tribunal. | Dr Singhal was unaware that she had recorded the conversation on her mobile phone. He did not attend the tribunal. |
The MPTS hearing in Manchester heard that in May 2011 the woman, referred to as Patient A, told Dr Singhal she felt like killing herself and her anti-depressant medication was not working. | The MPTS hearing in Manchester heard that in May 2011 the woman, referred to as Patient A, told Dr Singhal she felt like killing herself and her anti-depressant medication was not working. |
He told her words to the effect that she should go home and kill herself, the hearing heard. | He told her words to the effect that she should go home and kill herself, the hearing heard. |
'Totally unacceptable' | 'Totally unacceptable' |
In December 2011 she asked Dr Singhal for a sick note because she was frightened to give evidence as a witness in a rape trial. | |
When she told him she was contemplating suicide, the hearing heard that he told her: "You can go and jolly well do it now." | When she told him she was contemplating suicide, the hearing heard that he told her: "You can go and jolly well do it now." |
Dr Singhal then said: 'If you don't know how to do it, it's on the internet how to do it." | Dr Singhal then said: 'If you don't know how to do it, it's on the internet how to do it." |
MPTS panel chair Eileen Carr said while Dr Singhal's medical treatment of Patient A had not been called into question his comments to a patient with a history of mental health concerns were "totally unacceptable and inappropriate". | MPTS panel chair Eileen Carr said while Dr Singhal's medical treatment of Patient A had not been called into question his comments to a patient with a history of mental health concerns were "totally unacceptable and inappropriate". |
She said: "The panel finds his conduct fell well below the standards expected of a medical practitioner and is satisfied that his behaviour amounts to serious misconduct." | She said: "The panel finds his conduct fell well below the standards expected of a medical practitioner and is satisfied that his behaviour amounts to serious misconduct." |
The panel was disappointed it had not heard from Dr Singhal during its proceedings, with no evidence of an apology, insight or remediation. | The panel was disappointed it had not heard from Dr Singhal during its proceedings, with no evidence of an apology, insight or remediation. |
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