GP Michal Laska suspended after watching porn at Iwade Health Centre
by Hayley Robinson
A doctor has been suspended from practising for 10
months after a disciplinary panel found he viewed pornography at
work and had an improper relationship with a patient.
The Medical Practitioners' Tribunal Service proved former Iwade
Health Centre GP Michal Laska accessed explicit material between
2005 and 2010.
The hearing revealed the practice received an anonymous call on
July 28, 2010, alleging Dr Laska was having an affair with a
patient.
Several days later a USB drive from his desk was found to
contain pornographic images.
Further investigations were undertaken into all computer
material Dr Laska had access to at the surgery.
Thousands of images were discovered, many of which were
cross-referenced between Dr Laska's roaming profile, the hard drive
from his desktop computer and the practice server.
After the Kent Community NHS Trust received a report of the
findings, an interview was held on November 11, 2010.
Dr Laska admitted accessing the sites between 2005 and 2007.
He said he stopped doing so as he believed it was "foolish", but
forensic analysis contradicted his story as there were dates up to
and including July 2010 where pornographic material was accessed
using Dr Laska's practice computer and unique computer reference
number.
The hearing also found he had an "improper emotional
relationship" with a patient between March and July in 2010.
He insisted throughout the investigation that his relationship
with the patient
"Accessing pornographic material at work, even if legal, could jeopardise a doctor's registration..." – Dr Peter Jefferys
was one
of friendship but admitted the pair met at his home, often late in
the evening.
This was confirmed in a letter from the woman concerned who said
she was going through a very upsetting time and just needed to talk
to someone and to go somewhere "safe and quiet".
Despite this, no proof was found to suggest his conduct towards
the patient was sexually motivated.
Panel members determined that Dr Laska's fitness to practice had
been impaired.
As a result they felt it was necessary to suspend his
registration for 10 months to protect the public interest.
Panel chairman Dr Peter Jefferys said: "This sends a signal to
the doctor and the profession that accessing pornographic material
at work, even if legal, could jeopardise a doctor's
registration.
"In addition, it sends a clear message that professional
boundaries between doctors and patients must be maintained.”
05/03/13
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