Doctor suspended pending child abuse hearing

A former doctor at Great Ormond Street Hospital has been temporarily suspended from the medical register while being investigated over child abuse claims. Philipp Bonhoeffer, who stopped seeing patients at the London-based hospital in 2009, faces a General Medical Council (GMC) disciplinary hearing, he strongly denies any impropriety or misconduct.  

The Metropolitan Police (Met) said the allegations in September 2008 involved children in Kenya but no arrests had been made.  “The investigation concluded in April 2009. No arrest was made as the alleged offences were not prosecutable in the UK for legal reasons. “Intelligence databases were updated at that time and information shared with relevant agencies as necessary to discharge our duty to safeguard children.”

 He was due to appear before a GMC fitness to practise panel but the case was halted after his lawyers applied for a judicial review which is due to be heard at the High Court on Friday. His lawyers have objected to the GMC wanting to use hearsay evidence for its case. 

 The hospital said it had no reason to believe any patients had been put at risk

BBC News:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-12995317