Doctor reprimanded over car crash

A doctor who left the scene of an accident while driving without a valid licence has been reprimanded.

Dr Arunkumar Ganesan was told by the General Medical Committee's (GMC) Professional Conduct Committee that it took a "serious view" of his actions.

The 31-year-old, from east London, had admitted causing a crash in Hollyhurst Road, Darlington, on 24 October, 2002.

The Manchester tribunal heard that his failure to stop and help was contrary to good medical practice.

I was in a state of shock, I was not thinking right. I was extremely fearful and wanted to get some help Dr Arunkumar Ganesan

James Rowley, for the GMC, said: "Dr Ganesan was driving along Craig Street in his Volkswagen Passat. He failed to give way at a junction as required.

"He continued into Hollyhurst Road and collided with Mrs [Audrey] Wilks' vehicle, causing it to overturn and trapping Mrs Wilks."

Dr Ganesan, whose Indian driving licence had expired before the accident, failed to stop. Instead he drove to his nearby home and called 999.

On 13 January, 2003, Dr Ganesan pleaded guilty to three charges at Durham Magistrates' Court and was fined £500 plus £35 court costs.

Dr Roland Ferguson, chairman of the GMC, said on Wednesday that the committee had considered the convictions against Dr Ganesan and had decided to issue a reprimand.

'Very sorry'

"At the very least the committee would have expected you to stop and render assistance to the other party involved in the accident," he said.

"The committee are also concerned to hear that you have driven knowing that you did not possess a valid driving licence."

He added: "The behaviour for which you were convicted constitutes a departure from the standards expected of a member of the medical profession."

At the time of the accident Dr Ganesan worked as a senior house officer specialising in orthopaedics and trauma at the Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Earlier during the hearing, Dr Ganesan, who now works as a clinical fellow at the Royal London Hospital, said he was "very sorry" for what had happened.

"I was in a state of shock, I was not thinking right. I was extremely fearful and wanted to get some help.

"Probably, thinking back, maybe I could have done a lot of things. At that moment I did not think about what I could have done.

"To this day when I think back I feel very, very sorry. I still cannot understand why I did this, why I decided to go home to call and not stay there and give medical assistance."