Gas and air accused medic 'lucky'

Dr Chahal was sacked from Alder Hey Children's Hospital

A doctor who inhaled gas and air while on duty at a children's accident and emergency ward admitted he was lucky he did not harm any of his patients.

Dr Jonathan Chahal used the anaesthetic Entonox from a canister on four occasions at Ormskirk General Hospital.

The paediatrician also persuaded four female nurses to inhale the gas in what were described as "Entonox parties", a General Medical Council panel heard.

His fitness to practise is being decided by the panel.

The incidents took place in the summer of 2007.

My conduct was clearly, clearly irresponsible. There is no getting round that Dr Jonathan Chahal

Dr Chahal told his colleagues that the drug was "fun" and "made you feel floaty".

Under cross-examination at the hearing in Manchester from GMC counsel Craig Sephton QC, the doctor said: "I feel it was unbelievably foolish and I am lucky in a way that I did not injure anyone, otherwise things could have been much worse. I realise that now.

"My conduct was clearly, clearly irresponsible. There is no getting round that."

Dr Chahal, 33, said he did not appreciate at the time how wrong it was to take the gas, commonly used to alleviate pain in childbirth.

A large part of the doctor's evidence was held in private in regard to his personal health.

He explained the Entonox parties lasted from "two or three minutes" rising up to "two hours" - the latter which involved watching a DVD on the ward.

The doctor said he did not believe his fitness was impaired as a result of the incidents.

He replied: I have made a lot of progress since two years ago," he said.

'No risk'

The doctor said he was not a risk to the public.

Dr Chahal was employed by Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals NHS Trust between August 2006 and July 2007 before he transferred to Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, and later returned as a locum doctor.

He was sacked from Alder Hey after the allegations came to light, the panel heard.

The paediatrician admits his conduct in relation to the four incidents involving Entonox was irresponsible and inappropriate.

He denies a fifth allegation of inhaling Entonox in July 2007 and inviting a nurse to join him.

Dr Chahal also denies consuming cocaine between January 2008 and March 2008 and making misleading and dishonest statements in a number of health assessments.

The GMC argues his fitness to practise is impaired because of his misconduct and adverse physical or mental health.