Doctor who killed gran is struck off (From Southend Standard)
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Doctor who killed gran is struck off
12:00pm Monday 10th September 2012 in Echo News
By Stephen Hackwell
Dr Aloke Basu
A DISGRACED GP has been banned from the medical profession after he ran over and killed a great grandmother while his eyesight was “severely impaired”.
Dr Aloke Basu, 67, was jailed for two years and banned from driving for life when he was found guilty of dangerous driving at Basildon Crown Court in May last year.
He has now been forbidden from ever working as a doctor in the UK again after a medical tribunal ruled he was no longer fit to practise.
The verdict, handed down at a special tribunal in Manchester, means Basu will be struck off the General Medical Council’s register.
The GP, of Burges Road, Thorpe Bay, killed Shirley Watkins, 74, after getting behind the wheel, despite knowing he suffered from cataracts in both eyes, chronic glaucoma and short-sightedness.
The Medical Practitioners’ Tribunal Service hearing ruled his actions had brought the profession into disrepute.
Dr Harvey Marcovitch, who chaired the panel of three which decided Basu’s fate, said: “The panel is satisfied the matters underlying Dr Basu’s conviction involved a serious departure from the standards of behaviour which the public is entitled to expect from a doctor, and diminish the public’s trust in the profession.”
Basu was a highly-respected GP and his trial was packed with supporters, friends and patients who pleaded for leniency.
His defence asked Judge Alice Robinson to spare the GP a custodial sentence because of his impeccable previous character and failing health.
However, despite labelling the public support “extraordinary”, the judge said she had no choice but to jail Basu because of the seriousness of the crime.
The married doctor was also sacked from his job at Shoebury Medical Centre after the criminal investigation ended.
Dr Marcovitch said the tribunal panel was left with no choice but to erase his name from the GMC register.
Unless he appeals, Basu will be struck off 28 days after he is officially informed of the tribunal’s decision.
Dr Marcovitch added: “In the panel’s judgment, Dr Basu’s conduct was fundamentally incompatible with his continuing to be a registered medical practitioner.”
Comments(19)
aduksquack
says...
12:45pm Mon 10 Sep 12
Russ13
says...
2:04pm Mon 10 Sep 12
aduksquack wrote:I would say 2 years for someone who has worked all their life, paid their dues and has in the main, made a positive contribution to society is about right when you consider scumbag-layabouts who break into people homes and steal their hard earned belonings rarely get more than a slap on the writst!
Only two years for killing someone through his own wilful negligence? Should have been a minimum of ten. Sick and tired of seeing people getting light sentences for killing just because they happened to be in a car when they killed.
Quis Separabit
says...
2:06pm Mon 10 Sep 12
huedash
says...
2:07pm Mon 10 Sep 12
Yes, it is sad that this lady died, and I am sure that he will live everyday with this regret, but do not come on here saying that you do everything you are suppossed to do by the letter of the law. If you do, you are lying!
Plus you should also remember the whole story of this accident, where it happened and why it happened, It was not just because his eyesight was failing that this lady died.
Russ13
says...
2:12pm Mon 10 Sep 12
APR
says...
3:16pm Mon 10 Sep 12
He's passed retirement age, so being struck off is totally irrelevant.
What would have happened if he'd been a twenty something, with tattoos ?
Russ13
says...
3:33pm Mon 10 Sep 12
APR wrote:We'll never know so it's a bit of a pointless question really......
What a let off. He's passed retirement age, so being struck off is totally irrelevant. What would have happened if he'd been a twenty something, with tattoos ?
Basildon_racer
says...
4:13pm Mon 10 Sep 12
aduksquack
says...
4:59pm Mon 10 Sep 12
Basildon_racer wrote:He knew he had defective eyesight, did nothing about it, and took to the road in his car. As a result of that wilful negligence he KILLED someone.
Im sure that this man does regret what he has done. Who knows the car journey he was making at the time of the accident could of been to see a patient? Driving to work? Both of these means he was treating someone or potentially saving their lives. It was just a horrible accident. No intent whatsoever. If i was the judge, I would of spared him jail and given him community service. Im sure many people forgive this man. Whats done is done. Cant dwell on the past. Good luck for the future Dr.
I don't care how 'respected' someone is, if they KILL someone through their own deliberate negligence - in this case knowingly driving with defective eyesight - they should get ten years minimum.
Alec Cikes
says...
5:00pm Mon 10 Sep 12
I'm sure he deeply regrets the events that have happened.
Good luck to you for the future, Dr Basu.
pendulum
says...
5:41pm Mon 10 Sep 12
EssexBoy1968
says...
6:46pm Mon 10 Sep 12
Basildon_racer wrote:At the trial it was stated that he was returning from washing his car. It was also stated that he had been advised some considerable time before by his consultant at Moorfields Eye Hospital to inform the DVLA of his deteriorating eyesight so that a decision could be made on his continued fitness to drive. The Police also reported that after he hit Mrs Watkins, there was no evidence he reduced his speed at all, indicating that he did not see her, even at the point of impact.
Im sure that this man does regret what he has done. Who knows the car journey he was making at the time of the accident could of been to see a patient? Driving to work? Both of these means he was treating someone or potentially saving their lives. It was just a horrible accident. No intent whatsoever. If i was the judge, I would of spared him jail and given him community service. Im sure many people forgive this man. Whats done is done. Cant dwell on the past. Good luck for the future Dr.
I am sorry that a much-respected GP has had the end of his career marred by such events, but the tribunal did rule that he brought his profession into disrepute, & as such he deserves to be struck off.
APR
says...
10:45pm Mon 10 Sep 12
Russ13 wrote:Pointless reply
APR wrote:We'll never know so it's a bit of a pointless question really......
What a let off. He's passed retirement age, so being struck off is totally irrelevant. What would have happened if he'd been a twenty something, with tattoos ?
I was just pointing out that the penalty didn't fit the crime.
markymark1981
says...
6:09am Tue 11 Sep 12
Dr Basu was my GP and in my eyes was and still is a great man - he made a stupid mistake and i have no doubt he will regret this for the rest of his life.
All the best.
maywood
says...
7:15am Tue 11 Sep 12
Rich~Carol
says...
7:48am Tue 11 Sep 12
huedash wrote:Some of the pathetic posts on this site are strange. They support this vile man and say hes a good doctor, did they also state this with Harold Shipman ? This GP was entitled to have been put in jail without any arguments as its no different with killing someone on drugs or drink, he should not have been behind the wheel. End of argument. 2 years in jail, tagged after a year, he got off lightly.
Anyone who puts this man down is an idiot! Best Doctor there has ever been in this area and is responsible for saving the lives of many people and starting the lives of many others.
Yes, it is sad that this lady died, and I am sure that he will live everyday with this regret, but do not come on here saying that you do everything you are suppossed to do by the letter of the law. If you do, you are lying!
Plus you should also remember the whole story of this accident, where it happened and why it happened, It was not just because his eyesight was failing that this lady died.
AndyBSG
says...
8:28am Tue 11 Sep 12
Russ13 wrote:Are you kidding?
aduksquack wrote:I would say 2 years for someone who has worked all their life, paid their dues and has in the main, made a positive contribution to society is about right when you consider scumbag-layabouts who break into people homes and steal their hard earned belonings rarely get more than a slap on the writst!
Only two years for killing someone through his own wilful negligence? Should have been a minimum of ten. Sick and tired of seeing people getting light sentences for killing just because they happened to be in a car when they killed.
So causing someone's death and being responsible for the anguish caused to their family through his own selfishness should just see him get a slap on the wrist just because he's worked hard and paid his taxes!!!
So if he had paid twice as much taxes in his life should his sentence have been halved?
Most ridiculous post I have ever seen on here.
The guy killed someone through his own negligence and will serve just 12 months inside some cushy open prison.
That is NOT justice.
drofmor1
says...
2:29pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Rich~Carol says...
12:18pm Mon 10 Sep 12