A Tayside doctor has been allowed to return to work after previously being suspended for ‘repeated dishonesty’ while working in Perth.
Dr Megan Whittaker was found in April, by The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS), to have committed serious misconduct during the incidents in 2019.
These included Dr Whittaker lying to superiors by saying she had attended a conference when she had not, and taking actions that could have swayed the outcome of a performance review.
At the time, she was practising as a trainee in trauma and orthopaedics at Perth Royal Infirmary (PRI).
At the hearing in April, Dr Whittaker was given a six month suspension, which will end on November 18, when she will be allowed to return to work.
Misconduct
In April it was found Dr Whittaker submitted a study leave application to attend a conference in July 2019.
She failed to notify the relevant people she did not attend it when she knew she should have informed them.
In August 2019, she started a new rotation at Perth Royal Infirmary. That December, at a competence progression meeting, Dr Whittaker stated, on one or more occasions, she had attended the event when she knew she had not.
Also in 2019, she was required to undergo Multi Source Feedback.
Dr Whittaker was told her educational supervisor was to select half her raters (those who would provide her feedback).
However, Dr Whittaker failed to follow this instruction and selected all raters herself.
The April tribunal determined Dr Whittaker’s actions were dishonest and her fitness to practise was impaired by reason of misconduct.
They said a six month suspension would sufficiently reflect the gravity of Dr Whittaker’s misconduct and send a clear signal to her, the profession and the wider public this was serious misconduct unbefitting of a registered doctor.
Return to practise
At the hearing this month, Dr Whittaker said, at the time the events occurred, she was new to the hospital and was the only trainee there.
She said she was new to Dundee and did not have good social support around her.
She stated that this level of support is much stronger now and her parents have moved from Tanzania to the Tayside region.
Dr Whittaker said if she was allowed back to practise, she wishes to prove to her colleagues she can be trusted and her past lapses in judgement will not be repeated.
The tribunal also heard Dr Whittaker had been completing a diving course during her suspension, which had given her transferable skills, assisted her in learning to trust others and learning to communicate in difficult or dangerous situations.
Based on testimonials given on Dr Whittaker’s behalf, as well as the doctor’s remorse and reflection of the situation, the tribunal concluded her fitness to practise is no longer impaired by reason of her misconduct.
Tribunal chair, Jayne Wheat said: “One of the reasons why the April 2022 tribunal imposed a six month period of suspension, was to give Dr Whittaker adequate time to reflect on her misconduct and develop greater insight.
“Dr Whittaker has at this point achieved that objective and has full insight into her dishonesty, including the reasons for it, its impact on the public and profession and how she would avoid a repetition in future.”
We approached NHS Tayside for comment.
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