CL practitioner guilty of 'regrettable lapse'

A Specsavers locum dispensing optician, found guilty of serious professional misconduct, was discharged without punishment due to his previously unblemished career.

Dilip Jayprakash Patel, who qualified as a contact lens fitter 15 years ago, appeared before a GOC disciplinary panel after a complaint which centred on his treatment of a patient later discovered to have a detached retina.

Despite finding him guilty, the panel decided to take no further action against the Peterborough practitioner, in part due to his 'candour as a witness' and the testimonies given on his behalf.

Peter Carter - a manager for Peterborough City Council, which uses the multiple as its preferred opticians - was examined by Patel on April 19 2004 after experiencing a slight clouding of vision in his left eye.