Misconduct verdict for optometrist

A Middlesex optometrist was found to have committed serious professional misconduct at a disciplinary committee of the General Optical Council this week.
However, his dispensing optician colleague was judged to be not guilty of a similar charge.
Optometrist Jeremy Stephen Fox and dispenser Marwan Joseph Mesmar of The Avenue Opticians in Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex appeared at the General Dental Council, London, for the May 3-4 hearing.
Mesmar was accused of failing to ask about or record important medical information during an appointment with a patient, Christopher Tamlyn, on July 21 2003.
Tamlyn had complained of blurred vision and a light cloud effect in the bottom of his eye and because Fox was unavailable Mesmer offered to see him instead.
During the appointment Mesmar diagnosed debris in the eye, but two months later Tamlyn learned from an ophthalmologist that his symptoms were due to a detached retina.
Fox, meanwhile, was accused of completing and signing Tamlyn's GOS18 referral form on July 22 2003 - following Mesmar's examination - without examining the patient himself.
'Fox compounded Mesmar's errors,' said Chris Alder, representing the GOC.
After two days of deliberations, committee chairman David Pyle told Mesmar that he had been found not guilty of the charge brought against him.
Turning to Fox, he said that the committee had found him guilty of serious professional misconduct.
'You have learnt a valuable lesson,' said Pyle, 'and I am confident you will never commit this error again.
'It is the only occasion you have carried out this misdemeanour, and considering your personal circumstances we can see no merit in further action.'