Blog
Kingsley Napley’s Medical Negligence Team ‘walks together’ with the Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity
Sharon Burkill
18 February 2015
Case Update: High Court dismisses Pharmacist’s appeal on basis of bias and disproportionate sanction
Rasool v General Pharmaceutical Council [2015] EWHC 217 (Admin)
Judgment date: Friday 6th February 2015
Disciplinary proceedings were commenced against the appellant, Mr Rasool, following an undercover investigation by the British Broadcasting Corporation (“the BBC”) into the alleged unlawful supply of prescription-only medicines by a number of pharmacies in central London. Mr Rasool was the superintendent pharmacist at one of the pharmacies which the BBC investigated. The undercover team visited the pharmacy on four occasions between August and November 2012. Mr Rasool was the responsible pharmacist on each of those occasions. On each occasion a prescription-only medicine was supplied in exchange for money without a prescription from an approved practitioner. The footage was broadcast on television on 17th December 2012. As a result of the investigation, Mr Rasool’s actions were investigated by the GPhC and proceedings commenced.
13 February 2015
Professionals: are you clear on your ethical responsibilities?
Most professionals, regardless of the sector in which they operate, will be aware that they have to meet certain professional requirements, as set down by their regulatory body. The majority of professional regulators, in addition to technical standards, prescribe ethical standards to which their members must adhere at all times. Some standards are principles based; others are more prescriptive. Regardless of the nature of the ethical code, it is important that the principles within the code are clear and that the regulated professional understands the standards of ethics they are to meet.
11 February 2015
Case Update: High Court considers bias, vulnerable witnesses, re-hearings and legal representation
Virdee v General Pharmaceutical Council [2015] WL 376003
Judgement date: 30 January 2015
The Appellant qualified and registered as a pharmacist in July 2009. The Appellant was subject to Fitness to Practice proceeding before the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) in respect of alleged professional misconduct between October 2009 and August 2010, when he was working as a locum at a pharmacy with Ms A, the complainant. The charges all related to complaints by Ms A of various incidents of sexual harassment and/or sexual assault at the pharmacy. The proved charges were that on four different occasions the Appellant had approached Ms A from behind and rubbed his penis against her or pushed it against her bottom, and that these approaches were sexually motivated. The Appellant was removed from the Register.
10 February 2015
Case Update: Court Of Appeal orders rehearing following non disclosure of witness statement by the BSB
McCarthy v Visitors to the Inns of Court and Bar Standards Board [2015] EWCA Civ 12
Judgment date 20th January 2015
This case was an appeal to the Court of Appeal of the High Court’s decision not to quash the decision of the Visitors of the Inns of Court to uphold a decision of the Bar Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) in finding a barrister (DM) guilty of misconduct and disbarring him.
29 January 2015
Case Update: High Court consider the obligations of architects when carrying out work under the Party Wall Act 1996
Woodman-Smith v Architects Registration Board [2014] EWHC 3639 (Admin)
In dismissing an appeal against the decision of a Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) of the Architect’s Registration Board, the High Court consider the obligations of architects when carrying out work under the Party Wall Act 1996.