dr James Ip has been suspended from working as a paramedic for six months after admitting to using his wife’s free passport
A leading pediatrician has been suspended from his NHS job for six months for using his wife’s free TfL passport.
dr James Ip, who lives in a £1.7million house in west London, has been treated as dishonest in a case brought against him by the UK Medical Regulatory Authority.
The General Medical Council (GMC) claimed its actions could undermine public confidence in the profession.
But the decision sparked anger among medical professionals, who called it disproportionate because no patients were affected by Dr. IP were compromised.
Commentators said the GMC is harming patients by taking a hard-working medic from the NHS as the healthcare system grapples with record backlogs in the wake of the Covid pandemic.
dr Ip works as a consultant pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), one of the world’s leading children’s hospitals.
He originally qualified in London almost 20 years ago.
dr James Ip is employed as a Specialist in Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia at Great Ormond Street Hospital, one of the leading children’s hospitals in the UK and the world
His “dishonest” behavior was brought to light by a TfL ticket inspector at Hammersmith station in February last year
dr Ip was caught using his wife’s passport by a Transport for London (TfL) ticket inspector at Hammersmith station on 7 February last year.
He also admitted to using the card, which gave his wife free travel, on 54 other occasions between December 13, 2021 and February 4, 2022.
It is unclear why his wife, who was not named in the tribunal’s report, was given a free ride ticket.
dr Ip admitted in court in July to entering a compulsory ticketed area without a valid ticket and was convicted and fined £500.
He was also ordered to pay compensation of £297 and costs.
The GMC, which is hearing the case for the suspension of Dr. Submitting Ip to the medical tribunal, admitted his actions posed no risk to patients, there was no evidence that his care was substandard and that he was a “respectable and experienced clinician”.
However, they said Dr. Ip acted dishonestly by using a free ticket to which he was not entitled.
Regulators also sounded the alarm because it wasn’t an isolated incident, but happened over a period of two to three months.
They added that the actions of Dr. Ip also constituted a material breach of the GMC code, which states: “You must ensure that your conduct justifies your patients’ trust in you and the public’s trust in the profession.”
In a statement, Dr. Ip said part of the reason he used the pass was resentment that NHS staff had to pay to use TfL services during the pandemic, but added that he now acknowledged this as wrong.
“I see now that this rationalization was illogical, immoral and wrong,” he wrote in a statement explaining his actions to the court.
“I recognize that fare evasion is a form of stealing and charging other passengers for free and there was no excuse for not paying for my tickets.
“I have since admitted my wrongdoing and apologized to Transport for London for my conduct.”
However, the GMC noted the dates given for use of the card were after the lifting of Covid lockdowns.
They also noted his admission that more than half of the 55 trips had to do with his private practice or personal trips, not his work at GOSH.
The tribunal sided with the GMC, finding that the actions of Dr. Ip represented a course of ongoing dishonesty and given the data they were unable to accept his representation for his actions.
“Each time, the court found that Dr. Ip must have known what he was doing was wrong, but he didn’t stop until he got caught,” they said.
The GMC’s decision prompted outrage and ridicule from other medical professionals such as Dr. David Nichol
But others, like Dr. Joel Giblett, said medics said the sanction made sense because the dishonesty existed over a period of time
In terms of damage control, the panel noted that Dr. Ip admitted the behavior at the earliest opportunity, contacted the GMC and expressed remorse and some insight regarding his actions.
However, they decided that a six-month suspension overall was the most appropriate and proportionate sanction to be imposed.
“He violated one of the fundamental tenets of the medical profession by acting dishonestly,” they wrote.
But the decision caused outrage and ridicule among other doctors.
neurologist dr David Nicholl out Birmingham sarcastically wrote on Twitter: “Dear Parents, Gt Ormond St, We are REALLY sorry but your child’s heart surgery has been delayed by 6 months…as our cardiac anesthetist has been suspended by the GMC for 6 months for breaking his wife’s Oyster card used for which he was already penalized, we are sure that you will be satisfied with that.’
Others called it “pathetic,” “appalling,” and “a farce,” with some noting that Dr. Ip for being unable to work while suspended would face a £50,000 fine.
Other medics asked if they should contact the GMC for leaking Netlfix passwords.
dr Matt Bigwood of the Doctors’ Association UK was another who supported the ban on Dr. Ip slammed.
“We at The Doctors’ Association UK are once again shocked and angry at the actions of the GMC,” he said.
“The six-month suspension for Dr. Ip for the offense committed is totally disproportionate as other much more serious offenses (e.g. drunk driving and sex offenses) often receive similar bans.
“He has already admitted the cheating, shown remorse and accepted the punishment.”
He added that the suspension could actually harm patients by “possibly delaying pediatric cardiac surgery in his absence.”
dr Bigwood said ethnic minority doctors have repeatedly faced disproportionate sanctions from the GMC and are calling for action.
“There appears to be no change in the institutional racism emanating from within the GMC. We call for an immediate independent review of this matter,” he said.
However, some medical professionals said doctors are not above the law and should expect professional sanctions if they break the law.
dr Joel Giblett, a cardiologist at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “You cannot commit dishonest fraud repeatedly over a period of time and think there will be no consequences. It wasn’t an isolated case. It didn’t stop until he got caught.’
And Kathye King, who claimed to be the mother of a child awaiting surgery at GOSH, said she supports the suspension.
“I am a parent of a child awaiting surgery at GOSH and honestly I would prefer a staff member who is honest because if someone is willing to break the law about something it means they are probably doing it elsewhere will do,” she wrote.
MailOnline contacted the GMC but declined to comment.
dr Ip has 28 days to appeal the tribunal’s March 9 decision.
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