Media doctor guilty of disrepute

Dr Raj Persaud has had a high profile media career

Psychiatrist and broadcaster Dr Raj Persaud brought his profession into disrepute by plagiarising others' work, the General Medical Council has found.

Dr Persaud had admitted plagiarising others' work in a book and a series of articles - but denied being dishonest.

However, a GMC disciplinary hearing in Manchester rejected his defence.

Dr Persaud is a former presenter of BBC Radio 4's All In The Mind, and appeared regularly on the television chat show This Morning.

You must have known that your actions in allowing the work of others to be seen as though it was your own would be considered dishonest by ordinary people Dr Anthony Morgan GMC Profile: Dr Raj Persaud

Dr Anthony Morgan, chair of the General Medical Council (GMC) Fitness to Practise panel, said: "You are an eminent psychiatrist with a distinguished academic record who has combined a clinical career as a consultant psychiatrist with work in the media and journalism.

"The panel is of the view that you must have known that your actions in allowing the work of others to be seen as though it was your own would be considered dishonest by ordinary people.

"The panel has therefore determined that your actions were dishonest in accordance with the accepted definition of dishonesty in these proceedings.

"The panel has determined that your actions, in plagiarising the work of others, were liable to bring the profession into disrepute."

'Confused state'

Dr Persaud admitted plagiarising four research papers for his 2003 book From The Edge of The Couch.

He also admitted copying the work of two foreign academics for five articles he wrote for publications including the British Medical Journal and The Independent.

He claimed he was in a confused mental state at the time because of the pressure of juggling his NHS and media work.

Dr Persaud, 45, was first seen alongside Richard Madeley and Judy Finnegan on This Morning in 1994.

He has combined a high profile media career, with an equally successful career in psychiatry, and is currently employed as a consultant psychiatrist for the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust.

The GMC will decide on Friday whether to impose any sanctions on Dr Persaud.