Black Country doctor banned over taxi driver medicals that endangered lives
A MIDLAND doctor, who signed off medical examinations on taxi drivers but failed to check their records, has been struck off.
Dr David Dallow Pottinger, from Willenhall, was found to have completed forms for 41 patients inaccurately at three GP surgeries by the General Medical Council(GMC).
The GMC has now erased his name from the medical register. It decided Pottinger’s actions were misleading and dishonest and said he could have put lives in danger.
An inquiry was launched when Worcester Council complained to the GMC about examinations on hackney carriage and private hire taxi drivers carried out by Pottinger, a hearing was told.
It then emerged the doctor, believed to be in his 60s, was not checking medical records of drivers when deciding if they were fit to drive.
The forms at the centre of the probe were completed between May 2007 and October 2009 at Spring Gardens, Haresfield and St Martins’ Gate surgeries, all in Worcester.
A GMC spokesman said: “By not checking the medical history of drivers obtaining licences, he could have placed the public at risk.
“He was not aware of any medical conditions those applicants had which might have affected their ability to drive safely.
Pottinger, who did not attend the hearing, claimed his examinations were “perfectly competent and satisfactory” and said he had a “clear conscience in the matter”.
source:
http://www.birminghammail.net/
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