Doctor suspended over 'deceit' and sex crime claims

AN IRISH doctor who re- registered to practise medicine here just months before he allegedly jumped bail in Florida on child sex assault charges has had his registration suspended pending a Medical Council decision on sanctions to be imposed for professional misconduct.

Mr Justice Peter Kelly earlier yesterday directed the Medical Council’s application for orders suspending the registration of Dr David West (54), also known as Dr Rory Doyle, with addresses at Donnybrook Manor, Belmont Avenue, Donnybrook, Dublin and Sallins Bridge, Sallins, Co Kildare, should be heard in public.

Such applications are held in private unless the court decides otherwise and the judge ruled it was in the public interest the matter be heard in open court.

Dr West, who qualified here under his birth name Rory Doyle and re-registered here in July 2001 as Rory Doyle before changing his name by deed poll to David West in 2004, had practised at premises in Dublin city centre, including Advanced Cosmetic Surgery, Therapie Beauty Treatments and the Madison Clinic. The council had proposed these and others, including medical authorities in the UK, Florida and Canada be notified of the court’s decision.

If those orders were made at a private hearing, that would not inform the general public, the medical profession in general and potential patients and employers in relation to Dr West, the judge said.

The hearing should be in public, the judge said, given very serious allegations against him found proven last week by the Council’s Fitness to Practise Committee and the “element of deceit” by Dr West in re-registering here without disclosing he was wanted in Florida and under investigation by the healthcare authorities there.

The judge ruled it was inappropriate Dr West should practise medicine in any form here and suspended his registration pending the outcome of the Medical Council meeting on April 28th.

Dr West secured bail from the court earlier this week in separate proceedings where his extradition to the US is being sought to face trial on charges including molesting a child under 12 and fondling a child under the age of 16 years. The offences are alleged to have occurred at Treasure Island, Florida, on dates between September 1994 and February 1995 and at St Petersburg, Florida, in July 2000.

Dr West told the court on Monday he changed his name to give himself a fresh start.

Yesterday, Patrick Leonard, for the Medical Council, said the council initiated proceedings against Dr West in October 2008 for suspension of his registration pending an inquiry by the FTPC into a complaint by one of his patients here alleging an inappropriate relationship.

During the investigation of that complaint, it was learned Dr West had changed his name by deed poll. It was also learned that he was the subject of sexual assault charges in Florida and he had effectively fled bail in the US.

That gave rise to serious concern on the council’s part and a second Fitness to Practise Committee inquiry was initiated.

The inquiry on December 10th found Dr West not guilty of professional misconduct in relation to the complaint by his patient here.

The High Court on December 19th lifted the suspension of his registration on his undertaking not to treat children in his practice and only to perform cosmetic surgery.

That undertaking was to apply pending the outcome of the second fitness to practise inquiry. That inquiry heard evidence from the complainant of sex assault in Florida who had travelled here to attend the hearing. Dr West did not participate.

Last week the committee found Dr West guilty of eight counts of professional misconduct and recommended the council cancel his registration. The council meets on April 28th to decide sanction but the council was seeking suspension of registration pending that meeting, Mr Leonard said.