A doctor, who made an inappropriate remark to a five-year-old patient and offered £10,000 to ‘resolve’ another problem, could face sanctions.
A Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) tribunal found Dr Manohar Singh, who ran Birkby Health Centre, guilty of several counts of misconduct during 2012 and 2013, following a hearing.
The MPTS panel found that during a consultation with a five-year-old boy Dr Singh had said: “You are a girl aren’t you? Show me you are a boy.” or “words to that effect”.
Dr Singh, 70, was cleared of badgering a patient into having her sons circumcised by him for a fee.
But the panel found retired Dr Singh had interfered in an alleged dispute between a disabled tenant and his landlord and had offered the tenant’s brother £10,000 cash to make the problem ‘go away’.
The tribunal in Manchester ruled that Dr Singh had then unfairly struck the disabled man and his brother off the practice list.
A ruling issued by the MPTS panel said: “The tribunal found that this was not a fair and reasonable approach.
“Due to his disabilities, Patient D was vulnerable and it was incumbent upon you to ensure that arrangements were made for his continuity of care, immaterial to the issues with your relationship with his family.”
The panel will now decide what action to take against Dr Singh.
The doctor could have restrictions placed on his licence to practice. He may be suspended or struck off the medical register.
Dr Singh was found guilty of misconduct during an unrelated MPTS tribunal in 2010, following the death of Birkby grandma Doreen Froste.
Mrs Froste died at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, in 2004, partially from poisoning by Methotrexate, a drug prescribed by Dr Singh.
Dr Singh admitted prescribing incorrect doses of the drug but was spared a formal warning by the panel.
Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated Dr Singh’s former practice on Norwood Road as “inadequate.”
The report, published last month, gave the surgery its lowest rating – for its safety, effectiveness and management.
It was rated ‘requires improvement’ for its approach towards compassionate care and its responsiveness.
Birkby Health Centre is now run by Dr Sobia Khaliq who took over the contract on January 15, following Dr Singh’s retirement.
A spokesperson for Dr Khaliq said she had recognised all of the CQC’s recommendations and was working ‘to meet and surpass them’.
