Suspended eye doctor used blood-stained gloves for examinations

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By Daniel Pye

A suspended eye doctor who examined three patients with gloves stained with blood faced workplace pressures, a tribunal heard.

Consultant ophthalmologist Dr Syeda Siddiqui has received a six-month suspension after the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) concluded the infection control incidents “were a product of complacency” following a previously unblemished three decades-long career.

The MPTS heard expert evidence from Dr Jonathan Durnian who stated conducting an examination with gloves stained with blood belonging to another patient fell “seriously below the standard expected of a reasonably competent consultant ophthalmologist”.

Siddiqui admitted keeping non-sterile medical equipment at home despite Durnian telling the tribunal it “is never appropriate” to do so. The tribunal heard Siddiqui did this for “charitable causes”.

As well as her misconduct, the tribunal also sanctioned her “dishonesty” as, when challenged, she had referred to the examination of one of the patients as an isolated incident.

While the MPTS heard evidence Siddiqui had an “extremely busy” minor operations list it did not find her working environment reduced the seriousness of risk to the public by her misconduct.