Dewsbury doctor suspended after writing false whiplash report for Wakefield ‘patient’

Dr Muhammed Raheel Shaikh was visited by an undercover reporter posing as a patient at a private clinic in Wakefield last June.

A Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service panel heard this week that the reporter, who worked for a national newspaper, had claimed to be the victim of a car accident.

He told Dr Shaikh that his insurance company needed a report setting out his injuries.

During the consultation on June 2, the reporter made it clear that he was not injured but said he wanted a favourable report.

The panel found Dr Shaikh asked leading questions and provided suggested responses.

He exaggerated the extent of the injuries, the ongoing effects and the impact on the patient’s daily life.

Dr Shaikh admitted all the charges during the four day hearing in Manchester.

The panel decided yesterday (Thursday) that he should be immediately suspended for 12 months.

Chairwoman Sheila Hollingsworth said: “Your fitness to practise is impaired because of your misconduct.”

Dr Shaikh has 28 days to appeal against his suspension.

See next week’s paper for the full story.