Case Summaries
Back to Case SummariesFitness to practise - PI071902
Public interest case July 2019 | Not Justified
A medical student was accused of dishonesty in relation to drug use and trying to cheat a compulsory drug test. The provider decided that the student’s fitness to practise was impaired and terminated their studies. The student appealed but the provider rejected the appeal.
The student complained to us.
The student complained that the provider had not followed a fair process. The student said they should have been given the chance to cross-examine witnesses at the hearing, and that the provider had wrongly required them to prove their innocence.
We decided that the student’s complaint to us was Not Justified.
Overall, we were satisfied that the student was offered a fair opportunity to defend themselves. The student was a final year medical student attending clinical placements and the provider properly recognised its responsibilities to patient safety and the expected professional standards for doctors. The provider considered each of the sanctions under the Fitness to Practise Procedure in turn before deciding to terminate the student’s studies, starting with the least severe and giving reasons for its decision.
We decided that it was reasonable for the provider to reject the student’s appeal because the weight of evidence against the student was compelling.