Optometrist suspended for made-up tonometry records

A General Optical Council fitness to practise committee has suspended Plymouth OO Lionel Watson for 12 months after it found him guilty of misconduct for failing to carry out tonometry in six patients and fabricated measurements in patient records.

The committee, chaired by Pamela Ormerod, said: ‘The registrant exposed six patients to an unwarranted risk of harm and brought the profession into disrepute; he breached fundamental tenets of the profession with regard to patient care and honesty.

‘The committee also bore in mind the seriousness of dishonesty involving a fabrication of patient records in a profession which relies upon public confidence in the honesty of its practitioners, and proper records being made for optimal patient safety.’