Charity work in Bangladesh helped an ophthalmologist overturn a decision to strike him off the medical register for making false claims for sight tests on nursing home patients.
Surrey-based Dr Khan Mohammad Manzur was struck off by a General Medical Council professional conduct committee in March after making false claims for performing eye tests on nursing home patients Ð one of whom was dead. His falsification of dates and numbers of patients tested led to a conviction at Bromley Magistrates Court on May 12, 2000. He admitted five specimen charges of false accounting and asked for five similar offences to be taken into consideration (News, March 9). He was fined £7,500 and ordered to pay £200 costs.
At a hearing at the Privy Council this week, the erasure was changed to a suspension for three months from October 17 because of the volunteer work he has been doing in Bangladesh. Mr Manzur has spent ÔsubstantialÕ periods of his own time working in the Islamic Eye Centre in Dhaka Ôalleviating the suffering of the disadvantaged in that deprived countryÕ.
The Law Lords Ð Sir Phillip Otton, Lord Hope of Craighead and Sir Anthony Evans Ð were told that the ophthalmologist had raised money and frequently provided from his own resources to purchase spectacles for patients who could not afford them, and his work has received formal recognition by the authorities. He also set up the Mozaharuddin Multi-Craft Centre, which provides basic socio-cultural activities for the poor and illiterate.
They concluded: ÔHis ability as a doctor has never been questioned. Moreover, he has given service to others which has gone well beyond what is normally expected of a doctor to his patients. We considered that these are matters standing for his credit. The decision to strike him off was unduly harsh and disproportionate. It was not necessary in the public interest.Õ
