You are in > manchester.com  > News > Doctor 'erased from register'

Health

Doctor 'erased from register'

04/12/2007

A consultant paediatrician who made false accusations against a grieving mother over the death of her son is to be erased from the medical register.

The General Medical Council (GMC) said that Dr David Southall would be struck off the register in 28 days unless he lodged an appeal after being found guilty of serious professional misconduct.

Last month the GMC's fitness to practice panel heard how Dr Southall accused a mother, referred to as Mrs M, of drugging and then hanging her ten-year-old son, identified only as child M1, who died in June 1996.

"Your action in accusing Mrs M of murdering child M1 was inappropriate, added to her distress as a bereaved person and was, in the circumstances, an abuse of your professional position," the panel said.

"By acting in an accusatorial and intimidating manner you failed to treat Mrs M politely and considerately and did not respect her dignity.

"This behaviour was also inappropriate and caused distress to Mrs M."

The final determination continued: "The panel has found that your conduct has fallen well below the standard expected of a registered medical practitioner in a number of respects.

"It therefore finds you guilty of serious professional misconduct."

Dr Southall had been interviewing Mrs M at the request of Shropshire county council to determine whether the woman's second child, referred to as child M2, should be taken into care.

It is not the first time that he has courted controversy.

Three years ago he was found guilty of serious professional misconduct when he wrongly accused the husband of Sally Clark of murdering their two children.