Nottingham Doctor Escapes Suspension Following 'Derogatory' Comments About Muslim Patients
Dr. Balvinder Mehat, a GP partner at Bakersfield Medical Centre, made the remarks on a voicemail to a patient he forgot to hang up in 2021.
A Medical Practitioners Tribunal heard that he described two "problem patients" with offensive insults, Nottinghamshire Live reported on Thursday.
The recording circulated on social media two years later, causing concern among the Muslim population, which constitutes 20 percent of the doctor's patients.
Dr. Mehat, who is Sikh and grew up in India, expressed that he was "truly embarrassed and ashamed." The tribunal found his actions "demonstrated hostility based on race/religion," but stated his words were not motivated by racial or religious hostility.
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The tribunal ruled his behavior amounted to serious misconduct but found his practice was not impaired, avoiding sanctions such as suspension. On December 18, the panel decided to place a warning on his record.
"The tribunal anticipates that the warning will act as a deterrent and reminder to Dr. Mehat and the profession as a whole that his conduct fell below the standard expected and that a repetition is likely to result in a finding of impaired fitness to practise," the decision reads.
On July 8, 2021, Dr. Mehat left a voicemail for a patient but failed to disconnect the call, subsequently discussing "problem patients" with the practice manager and making derogatory comments about "these Muslims."
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In a statement to the tribunal, Dr. Mehat said he was referring to two patients who had allegedly verbally abused staff, not Muslims in general. The tribunal accepted the conversation was a "flashpoint" but deemed the language "inappropriate and unacceptable."
The General Medical Council (GMC) argued that a finding of impairment was necessary to maintain professional standards. However, the tribunal acknowledged Dr. Mehat's remorse and his efforts to remediate, including taking courses on anger management and unconscious bias, apologizing to local Muslim leaders, and donating to a mosque.
Source: Agencies
