• About
    • Ethics policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Ownership, funding and corrections
    • Complaints procedure
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Newsletter
Brighton and Hove News
3 October, 2026
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Community
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Food and Drink
  • Sport
    • Brighton and Hove Albion
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Community
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Food and Drink
  • Sport
    • Brighton and Hove Albion
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
Brighton and Hove News
No Result
View All Result
Home Brighton

Hove family doctor struck off

by Frank le Duc
Wednesday 17 Nov, 2010 at 4:17PM
A A
0

Hove doctor David Heal has been struck off the medical register because of anger, dishonesty and inappropriate behaviour.

A Fitness to Practise Panel at the General Medical Council brought Dr Heal’s medical career to an end a short while ago.

The panel heard how Dr Heal threatened two speed camera operators on separate occasions, attacking one of them, leading to a conviction for assault at Brighton Magistrates’ Court.

It also heard how he hurt an elderly woman patient as he forced her into an ambulance and how he had stormed out of a complex patient handover to another doctor.

The GMC panel said that suspension alone would not be enough to protect the public and maintain confidence in the medical profession.

It said: “The panel has already announced that it has found your fitness to practise to be impaired by reason of your misconduct and health.

“It has found your conduct and behaviour to be dishonest, misleading, inappropriate, seriously below the standard expected of a registered medical practitioner and likely to bring the profession into disrepute.

Lied on oath

“It did not find your evidence to be reliable or credible.

“Indeed the panel found that you have lied to it while on oath.

“It has already announced that your behaviour demonstrates a marked lack of insight, judgment and acceptance, and that there are severe consequences associated with the findings of dishonesty and misconduct.

“Although the issues the panel has had to consider as part of the formal allegation only go back to 2007, it has seen evidence of your dysfunctional and inappropriate conduct which dates back to 2000.

“You were found on two occasions to have accosted members of the public with no provocation.

“You have abused them verbally and put them in fear of harm and physical violence.

“You have used force on an elderly and vulnerable patient and as a consequence your actions left her with minor injuries.

“You have also been found guilty of common assault and have demonstrated that you have had attitudinal problems in relation to anger and to resorting to lying and behaving in a misleading manner when it suits you.”

“The panel is satisfied that your behaviour cannot all be regarded as a consequence of the diagnosed health condition.

Abused trust

“In any event, such a condition does not relieve you of your responsibility to the profession and to society to behave in an acceptable manner.

“You have abused a position of trust and violated your patient’s rights.

“You have persistently behaved in an inappropriate manner both professionally and in your personal life.

“You have been found guilty of an offence involving violence.

“You have undoubtedly put your own interests before those of patients and you have been repeatedly dishonest.

“Behaviour such as yours is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated.

“The panel has concluded that you have failed to recognise and appreciate the seriousness of the findings made and the effect that your conduct has had on the reputation of, and confidence in, the medical profession.

“The panel is not satisfied that a period of suspension would adequately reflect the very serious concerns regarding your conduct.

“Accordingly, the panel has concluded that erasure (of your name from the medical register) is the appropriate and proportionate sanction in your case.”

Support quality, independent, local journalism that matters. Donate here.
ShareTweetShareSendSendShare

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Most read

Brighton Blue no longer used on restored seafront iron

Brighton pub could lose licence after brawl

Bank cards stolen in burglary were used in nearby shops

Hove family doctor struck off

Pair guilty over Hove pub drive-by shooting

Brighton Gasworks scheme paused

18 months of roadworks set to begin on main seafront road

Council bin boss facing arson and burglary charges

Gay venue operator asks council to support nightlife

New live info boards haunted by ghost buses, passengers claim

Newsletter

Arts and Culture

  • All
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Food and Drink
Annie-Claude Deschênes adds Brighton date to her forthcoming tour

Annie-Claude Deschênes adds Brighton date to her forthcoming tour

2 October 2026
Dark alternative music on offer at The Hope & Ruin

Dark alternative music on offer at The Hope & Ruin

2 October 2026
Warrington Runcorn New Town Development Plan announces Sussex concert

Warrington Runcorn New Town Development Plan announces Sussex concert

1 October 2026
Minimalist, overwhelming, haunting, unsettling, direct & relentless sounds are heading our way from Eilis Frawley

Minimalist, overwhelming, haunting, unsettling, direct & relentless sounds are heading our way from Eilis Frawley

1 October 2026
Load More

Sport

  • All
  • Brighton and Hove Albion
  • Cricket
We have an awful lot of work to do, says Sussex coach

Farbrace gives his verdict after Sussex finish third

by Wesley Spearman - ECB Reporters Network
26 September 2026
2

Sussex director of cricket Paul Farbrace spoke about the win at Hampshire and the season overall after victory in the...

Bruce on the Boundary – Robinson ready to take the next step

Sussex wrap up rout of Hampshire on day three

by Wesley Spearman - ECB Reporters Network
26 September 2026
0

Sussex 244 (71.5 overs) and 319-9 declared (78 overs) Hampshire 128 (59 overs) and 238 (54.4 overs) Sussex (19 points)...

Auto Draft

Albion’s fairytale rise inspires a home win on a grand stage

by Frank le Duc
26 September 2026
1

It would be easy to say that Stand or Fall at the Theatre Royal in Brighton was a play about...

Bruce on the Boundary – Robinson ready to take the next step

Sussex close in on victory at Hampshire

by Alex Smith - ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
25 September 2026
0

Sussex 244 (71.5 overs) and 216-5 (59 overs) Hampshire 128 (59 overs) Sussex (3 points) lead Hampshire (3 points) by...

Load More
November 2010
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930  
« Oct   Dec »

RSS feed: From Sussex News From Sussex News

  • Teenage boy jailed for life for murder over £20 drug debt 2 October 2026
  • Jury convicts 89-year-old man of sexually abusing four children over 30 years 29 September 2026
  • Woman bailed after motorcyclist dies in crash at the weekend 28 September 2026
  • Keep vapes, batteries and other electricals out of household rubbish, residents urged 24 September 2026
  • Man faces court today charged with stabbing 13-year-old boy 22 September 2026
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy
  • Complaints
  • Ownership, funding and corrections
  • Ethics
  • T&C

© 2023 Brighton and Hove News

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Opinion
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
  • Sport
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Contact

© 2023 Brighton and Hove News