• About
    • Ethics policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Ownership, funding and corrections
    • Complaints procedure
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Newsletter
Brighton and Hove News
14 May, 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

Three women recovered off Brighton beach not believed to have attended nightclub

Drowned women now identified, police believe

Bodies of three women recovered from sea off Brighton beach

Lewes brewery plans taproom and pizza restaurant next to Prince Albert

Father in High Court bid to challenge Hove GP’s ‘unlawful’ gender treatment policy

Work on £7m seafront cycle lane scheme due to start in autumn

Brighton and Hove MPs speak out after women’s bodies recovered from sea

Hove family doctor struck off

Channel 4 to show drama based on Brighton medical student who lured man to his death

Patti Smith: A legend returns to Brighton Dome

Newsletter

Arts and Culture

  • All
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Food and Drink
Review: Kindling’s lunch to linger over

Review: Kindling’s lunch to linger over

14 May 2026
Patti Smith: A legend returns to Brighton Dome

Patti Smith: A legend returns to Brighton Dome

13 May 2026
Katie Kirby: Lottie Brooks’s Diary

Katie Kirby brings Lottie Brooks to life

12 May 2026
Time Keeps the Drummer

Fevered Sleep brings eclectic Time Keeps The Drummer to Brighton

12 May 2026
Load More

Sport

  • All
  • Brighton and Hove Albion
  • Cricket
Bruce on the Boundary – Robinson ready to take the next step

Sussex cruise to seven-wicket win over Leicestershire at Hove

by Bruce Talbot - ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
11 May 2026
0

Sussex 430 (113.4 overs) and 131-3 (15.3 overs) Leicestershire 328 (88.4 overs) and 232 (80.5 overs) Sussex (23 points) beat...

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

Sussex kept at bay as Leicestershire fight back on day three at Hove

by Paul Weaver - ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
10 May 2026
0

Sussex 430 all out (113.4 overs) Leicestershire 328 all out (88.4 overs) and 154-4 (56 overs) Leicestershire (5 points) lead...

Brighton and Hove Albion reach Women’s FA Cup final for first time

Brighton and Hove Albion reach Women’s FA Cup final for first time

by PA sport staff
10 May 2026
0

Liverpool 2 Brighton and Hove Albion 3 Brighton and Hove Albion substitute Nadine Noordam struck a dramatic added-time winner to...

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

Sussex take lead over Leicestershire at Hove

by Paul Weaver - ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
9 May 2026
0

Sussex 386-8 (101 overs) Leicestershire 328 (88.4 overs) Sussex (6 points) lead Leicestershire (4 points) by 58 runs with 2...

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

RSS From Sussex News

  • Smurf line drug dealer jailed 13 May 2026
  • Patti Smith: A legend returns to Brighton Dome 13 May 2026
  • Driver arrested after woman dies in crash today 12 May 2026
  • Ministers consult on latest plan for shake up of Sussex councils 12 May 2026
  • Man, 68, charged with rape 9 May 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