A DOCTOR who prescribed the wrong drugs to patients and performed surgery without being qualified to do so is facing suspension.
Dr Arun Rauniar, a GP at the Vicarage Road Medical Practice from 2003, had 19 conditions placed on his registration as a doctor for two years following a hearing in April 2008, which meant he could not practise medicine without supervision and had to undergo comprehensive retraining.
But following a review of his conditions earlier this month, a General Medical Council (GMC) panel concluded he had “made no progress” and decided he should be suspended for a further 12 months.
The panel noted Dr Rauniar had failed a London Deanery exam - designed to test the knowledge of a year-two student doctor – in September 2008 and had so far refused to retake it.
It said the fact he had failed the exam, in which he achieved a mark that put him in the bottom five per cent of candidates, was of “grave concern”.
The panel heard Dr Rauniar has now issued legal proceedings against the London Deanery, alleging age and race discrimination.
According to the GMC's ruling, Dr Rauniar has not practised medicine since 2004, when he was suspended pending investigation into a series of complaints.
At his first GMC hearing in April 2008, the panel heard he had performed “inappropriate” surgery, including circumcision, at the Leyton surgery and had falsely claimed to be a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons.
They also heard that Dr Rauniar had prescribed the wrong drugs to patients, failed to assess and examine patients properly, held out-of date emergency drugs and did not consider it his job to deal with mental health issues.
His defence barrister claimed the panel's report was "fundamentally flawed" and an assessment of his work not conducted in a "fair and balanced way".
Geoff Sandford, who made a formal complaint about the treatment given to his 90-year-old mother Lydia by Dr Rauniar in 2002, said he could not understand why he had not been struck off.
He said his mother was prescribed drugs used to treat dementia patients, when in fact she had suffered from a transient ischemic attack - also known as a mini stroke.
“I'm pleased the GMC has decided to suspend him,” said the 63-year-old.
“But I'm concerned he has still not been struck off. This has gone on for over seven years and I don't know how he can keep getting these chances.”
Dr Rauniar declined to comment on the suspension.
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