Doctor banned in porn scandal

Mar 10 2006 By Alison Dayani

A BLACK Country doctor has been banned from working as a GP for six months for repeatedly looking at pornography at his surgery desk.

Dr Omboye Pax Harry, who works in Oldbury, came under fire from the General Medical Council (GMC) this week for bringing the profession into disrepute.

The hearing was told Dr Harry, of Elmbridge Drive, Shirley, in Solihull, spent months looking at pornographic websites and images on his surgery screen.

He even looked at the perverted images between consultations with patients.

But he was caught out when his web watching led to a virus being imported into the surgery's practice computers.

A GMC panel spokesman said: "Your actions have fallen well below the standard expected of a registered medical practitioner, and that to conclude this case with no further direction would be wholly inadequate.

"The Panel has already found that you have acted inappropriately, irresponsibly and in a way that was liable to bring the profession into disrepute.

"The Panel has taken into account the public interest, in particular the maintenance of public confidence in the profession and declaring and upholding proper standards of conduct and behaviour in light of your misconduct."

The doctor, who moved to Britain from Nigeria, had tried to reach a deal with the panel where he would have restricted access to the internet on NHS premises and banned from working in a single-handed practice for two years, if he could continue to work.

But the GMC panel considered his actions so serious, that only a suspension would do.

Dr Harry started working in the Black Country in January last year.

His employers said the doctor has since signed up to a Computer Code of Conduct policy, and to their knowledge he had never accessed any material from the internet which may be considered unsuitable or inappropriate.

They added that Dr Harry was a well-respected member of the practice team and were happy for him to continue working for them.

The ban will come into force in 28 days time - the time the doctor has to appeal against the decision.