Top Child Psychiatrist Suspended after Misconduct Hearing

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http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3084309

Top Child Psychiatrist Suspended after Misconduct Hearing

By Charlie Hamilton, PA News

One of the UK's top child psychiatrists was today suspended for 12 months after

he was found guilty of serious professional misconduct.

Dr Cosgrove fired off a series of letters criticising the actions of

fellow doctors and alleging a hospital inquiry whitewash, the General Medical

Council was told.

The two-week inquiry in Manchester heard Cosgrove was one of the country's

leading experts in the field of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

He wrote the letters between 1996 and 2003 while working as a consultant child

and adolescent psychiatrist at the private health centre, the Bristol Priority

Clinic.

Outlining the committee's judgment, Chairman Professor Norman Mackay said the

comments made in the letters were " unprofessional, unsustainable and likely to

cause the reader to doubt the knowledge and skills " of the doctors.

He said: " The committee have found that the nature of this correspondence goes

far beyond what amounts to robust criticism and that he acted in a wholly

unprofessional manner in sending those letters.

" (We) consider that Dr Cosgrove has not demonstrated any remorse or insight into

his behaviour. "

He was also criticised for failing to monitor patients to whom he had prescribed

powerful drugs such as Ritalin and Risperidone, used in the treatment of ADHD.

Prof Mackay added: " Dr Cosgrove prescribed drugs to these patients but did not

take appropriate steps to monitor the patients whilst they were taking the drugs

prescribed and as such acted irresponsibly and not in the best interests of the

patients. "

The committee also found his allegations of a hospital whitewash, which related

to an inquiry following the treatment of a young boy by Oxfordshire Mental

Healthcare Trust, to be " unsustainable " .

Prof Mackay said: " The committee have considered all the matters and judge Dr

Cosgrove's behaviour to be a serious departure from the standards of care and

conduct expected of a registered medical practitioner.

" The committee find Dr Cosgrove guilty of serious professional misconduct. "

The GMC ruled that despite having retired from medical practice, Cosgrove should

be suspended for 12 months, effective immediately.

[Guest guest]

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3084309

Top Child Psychiatrist Suspended after Misconduct Hearing

By Charlie Hamilton, PA News

One of the UK's top child psychiatrists was today suspended for 12 months after

he was found guilty of serious professional misconduct.

Dr Cosgrove fired off a series of letters criticising the actions of

fellow doctors and alleging a hospital inquiry whitewash, the General Medical

Council was told.

The two-week inquiry in Manchester heard Cosgrove was one of the country's

leading experts in the field of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

He wrote the letters between 1996 and 2003 while working as a consultant child

and adolescent psychiatrist at the private health centre, the Bristol Priority

Clinic.

Outlining the committee's judgment, Chairman Professor Norman Mackay said the

comments made in the letters were " unprofessional, unsustainable and likely to

cause the reader to doubt the knowledge and skills " of the doctors.

He said: " The committee have found that the nature of this correspondence goes

far beyond what amounts to robust criticism and that he acted in a wholly

unprofessional manner in sending those letters.

" (We) consider that Dr Cosgrove has not demonstrated any remorse or insight into

his behaviour. "

He was also criticised for failing to monitor patients to whom he had prescribed

powerful drugs such as Ritalin and Risperidone, used in the treatment of ADHD.

Prof Mackay added: " Dr Cosgrove prescribed drugs to these patients but did not

take appropriate steps to monitor the patients whilst they were taking the drugs

prescribed and as such acted irresponsibly and not in the best interests of the

patients. "

The committee also found his allegations of a hospital whitewash, which related

to an inquiry following the treatment of a young boy by Oxfordshire Mental

Healthcare Trust, to be " unsustainable " .

Prof Mackay said: " The committee have considered all the matters and judge Dr

Cosgrove's behaviour to be a serious departure from the standards of care and

conduct expected of a registered medical practitioner.

" The committee find Dr Cosgrove guilty of serious professional misconduct. "

The GMC ruled that despite having retired from medical practice, Cosgrove should

be suspended for 12 months, effective immediately.

[Guest guest]

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3084309

Top Child Psychiatrist Suspended after Misconduct Hearing

By Charlie Hamilton, PA News

One of the UK's top child psychiatrists was today suspended for 12 months after

he was found guilty of serious professional misconduct.

Dr Cosgrove fired off a series of letters criticising the actions of

fellow doctors and alleging a hospital inquiry whitewash, the General Medical

Council was told.

The two-week inquiry in Manchester heard Cosgrove was one of the country's

leading experts in the field of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

He wrote the letters between 1996 and 2003 while working as a consultant child

and adolescent psychiatrist at the private health centre, the Bristol Priority

Clinic.

Outlining the committee's judgment, Chairman Professor Norman Mackay said the

comments made in the letters were " unprofessional, unsustainable and likely to

cause the reader to doubt the knowledge and skills " of the doctors.

He said: " The committee have found that the nature of this correspondence goes

far beyond what amounts to robust criticism and that he acted in a wholly

unprofessional manner in sending those letters.

" (We) consider that Dr Cosgrove has not demonstrated any remorse or insight into

his behaviour. "

He was also criticised for failing to monitor patients to whom he had prescribed

powerful drugs such as Ritalin and Risperidone, used in the treatment of ADHD.

Prof Mackay added: " Dr Cosgrove prescribed drugs to these patients but did not

take appropriate steps to monitor the patients whilst they were taking the drugs

prescribed and as such acted irresponsibly and not in the best interests of the

patients. "

The committee also found his allegations of a hospital whitewash, which related

to an inquiry following the treatment of a young boy by Oxfordshire Mental

Healthcare Trust, to be " unsustainable " .

Prof Mackay said: " The committee have considered all the matters and judge Dr

Cosgrove's behaviour to be a serious departure from the standards of care and

conduct expected of a registered medical practitioner.

" The committee find Dr Cosgrove guilty of serious professional misconduct. "

The GMC ruled that despite having retired from medical practice, Cosgrove should

be suspended for 12 months, effective immediately.

[Guest guest]

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3084309

Top Child Psychiatrist Suspended after Misconduct Hearing

By Charlie Hamilton, PA News

One of the UK's top child psychiatrists was today suspended for 12 months after

he was found guilty of serious professional misconduct.

Dr Cosgrove fired off a series of letters criticising the actions of

fellow doctors and alleging a hospital inquiry whitewash, the General Medical

Council was told.

The two-week inquiry in Manchester heard Cosgrove was one of the country's

leading experts in the field of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

He wrote the letters between 1996 and 2003 while working as a consultant child

and adolescent psychiatrist at the private health centre, the Bristol Priority

Clinic.

Outlining the committee's judgment, Chairman Professor Norman Mackay said the

comments made in the letters were " unprofessional, unsustainable and likely to

cause the reader to doubt the knowledge and skills " of the doctors.

He said: " The committee have found that the nature of this correspondence goes

far beyond what amounts to robust criticism and that he acted in a wholly

unprofessional manner in sending those letters.

" (We) consider that Dr Cosgrove has not demonstrated any remorse or insight into

his behaviour. "

He was also criticised for failing to monitor patients to whom he had prescribed

powerful drugs such as Ritalin and Risperidone, used in the treatment of ADHD.

Prof Mackay added: " Dr Cosgrove prescribed drugs to these patients but did not

take appropriate steps to monitor the patients whilst they were taking the drugs

prescribed and as such acted irresponsibly and not in the best interests of the

patients. "

The committee also found his allegations of a hospital whitewash, which related

to an inquiry following the treatment of a young boy by Oxfordshire Mental

Healthcare Trust, to be " unsustainable " .

Prof Mackay said: " The committee have considered all the matters and judge Dr

Cosgrove's behaviour to be a serious departure from the standards of care and

conduct expected of a registered medical practitioner.

" The committee find Dr Cosgrove guilty of serious professional misconduct. "

The GMC ruled that despite having retired from medical practice, Cosgrove should

be suspended for 12 months, effective immediately.