OO can return to practice

Optometrist Asif Akhtar has had his 12-month suspension lifted by a GOC fitness to practise committee.

Akhtar was suspended in July 2011 after the GOC heard he had failed to notify them of two convictions in 2009. The registrant pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud contrary to common law along with perverting the course of justice, and was given a community order for 200 hours unpaid work.

At the time, the committee said it wanted to see that the trustworthiness was re-established and that evidence of insight and acceptance of the misconduct were present.

At last week's review hearing, the committee described Akhtar's case as difficult and said it had misgivings whether he showed sufficient insight into the nature of his actions. Nonetheless, the registrant's suspension was lifted after the committee ruled that its criteria had been met.