A Denbighshire woman has been convicted of pretending to be a medical doctor at the scene of an accident.
Joanne Graham, 47, of Mount Terrace, Corwen, was convicted of falsely using the name or title of a medical practitioner at a trial at Llandudno Magistrates' Court on Thursday, 24th March 2022.
It is an offence under section 49(1) of the Medical Act 1983 for any person to wilfully and falsely pretend to be, or falsely use the name or title of, a medical practitioner registered under the Act. The maximum penalty on summary conviction is an unlimited fine.
Magistrates heard that Graham happened upon an accident in Green Lane, Corwen, on Sunday, 27th June 2021.
Prosecutor Adam Warner explained that cyclist Martin Jones had fallen from his bike and ended up in a ditch at the side of the road.
Graham got out of her car with two large bags of medical equipment and a clipboard.
According to witness David Buckley, an off-duty police officer who was walking his dog nearby, she introduced herself as a doctor.
Mr Buckley said in evidence: "A blue Land Rover Freelander stopped. A lady in boots, jeans and a shirt got out and said 'I'm a doctor'."
A second witness, Bethan Williams, who was also an off-duty police officer and the partner of Mr Buckley, described how Graham "stuck her head out (of her car) and said 'I'm a doctor, can I assist?'"
A third witness, Karen Jones, the sister of Martin Jones, attended the scene of the accident having received a phone call from her son, who was accompanying his Uncle Martin at the time. She found her brother, who has a prosthetic leg, lying in a ditch at the roadside.
Ms Jones told the court that several people were present and the defendant described herself as a "trauma doctor". Ms Jones remembers being relieved that someone "so important" was tending to her brother.
Another witness, Helen Counsell, a retired District Nursing Sister, was also adamant that Graham had described herself as a doctor.
Mrs Counsell was suspicious at the manner in which Graham was treating Mr Jones' injuries. She subsequently reported her concerns with the police.
Enquiries were made with the General Medical Council, which maintains the medical register, and confirmed that Graham was not in fact a registered medical practitioner.
Graham was subsequently arrested on suspicion of impersonating a registered medical practitioner.
Graham's account, which was flatly rejected by the court, was that she had introduced herself as a "trauma medic".
She had a qualification for casualty care in mountain rescue but this expired in 2019 as well as a life support qualification, which started in 2019.
Giving evidence, Graham said: "I slowed down and could see a casualty in a ditch with quite substantial bleeding to the head. I wound the window down and said 'Do you need any medical help, I'm a medic?"
She said she had introduced herself as: "Hi, I'm Jo. I'm a medic. I'm from Mountain Rescue."
Graham categorically denied that she claimed to be a doctor.
In cross-examination, Mr Warner put it to her: "Are you saying that all four of those witnesses, who independently stated you introduced yourself as a doctor, are you saying they are all wrong?
"Yes", replied Graham.
She denied "living in a bit of a fantasy world".
Having considered the evidence carefully, Magistrates were of the view that Graham had committed the offence.
David Davies, Presiding Justice, said the evidence of the three independent witnesses was consistent and credible.
Graham was fined £600.
She was also ordered to pay £70 in compensation, £750 towards prosecution costs and £60 surcharge.
No comments:
Post a Comment