Operating Department Practitioner Struck Off For Failure To Report Drug Misuse

Main Category: Litigation / Medical Malpractice
Article Date: 08 Jun 2009 - 8:00 PDT

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Operating Department Practitioner, Mr Mark McFarlane has been struck off the HPC Register after he failed to report the misuse of drugs by a colleague.

The HPC Conduct and Competence Committee heard that Mr McFarlane knew a colleague was removing drugs for their own personal use and did not report that fact to his employer or the HPC.

Standard four of the HPC standards of conduct, performance and ethics requires the disclosure of important information about other registrants and Mr McFarlane failed in his duty to report the matter to the HPC.

HPC Panel Chair, Mr Raymond Pattison commented:

"There was clearly potential for the drug usage to compromise patient safety and Mr McFarlane's failure to disclose his colleague's behaviour represented a very serious misjudgement."

The Panel determined that Mr McFarlane's fitness to practise was impaired by reason of misconduct and decided to strike Mr McFarlane from the Register.

"Mr McFarlane's default was serious and requires the imposition of a sanction.

"The Panel is satisfied that a striking-off order is a proportionate response to the allegation because the failure to engage in the HPC process itself demonstrates a lack of insight into the shortcomings underpinning the allegation."

Mr McFarlane was neither present nor represented at the hearing.

Source
Health Professions Council

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