An orthopedic surgeon has been allowed to keep his job despite crashing his car into hospital barriers while driving more than five times the speed limit.
Dr Paulo Torres, a podiatrist, was seen by a police officer driving recklessly before crashing into the barriers near the hospital where he worked.
However, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service decided to let him keep his job after hearing that he was in “trouble” of his own at the time of the offence.
Dr Torres was spotted driving recklessly by a police officer at 4.30pm on 22 February 2022, the court heard.
As the surgeon arrived at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne, he drove up the road and crashed into barriers and was found lying drunk at the wheel. He was later arrested.
Two breathalyser tests showed that he was five times the drink-drive limit, with readings of 190mcg and 175mcg – the legal limit is 35mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.
Hadley Freeman Hospital in Newcastle
Tom Moran, of the General Medical Council (GMC), told the court that it was “fortunate” that no one was injured, adding that Dr Torres was drunk which impaired his ability to stand.
The court ruled that Dr Torres should be allowed to continue his orthopedic work but he must be monitored by an “occupational reporter” while at work and notify the GMC if he transfers work.
However, it also felt Dr Torres had shown “significant insight” into his mistakes.
The chairman of the jury, Nessa Sharkett, said: “He remains responsible for his actions and the conditions in which he was driving and the amount of alcohol in his breath at the time there is no doubt how serious this offense is.
“Furthermore, there can be no doubt that his actions which led to his conviction had the potential to put others at risk of harm and undermine public confidence in this profession.
“Furthermore, the Court of Appeal found that Dr. Torres’ crime brought this profession into disrepute.”
‘Real regrets’
Tom Day, representing Dr Torres, told the court that the surgeon had “expressed clear and sincere remorse for the conduct”.
Mr Day argued that there was a public interest in allowing Dr Torres to continue working, given the “professionalism of the work he does and the respect in which he is held.”
In its verdict, the jury found that Dr Torres “had trouble expressing” his regret and remorse for what he had done, adding that it was impressed by his honesty and integrity.
“Dr Torres was not comfortable discussing his history as he did not want it to appear as if he was trying to justify himself,” it was also heard.
The sentence added: “He also acknowledged the mistakes he would make in his career and felt that his actions were a serious loss of his career.”
“He knew how supportive he was of his teammates and he wanted to make sure he worked hard to get them to trust him again and be there and reliable.”
Since 2012, Dr Torres has been a Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon specializing in foot and ankle problems at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
He was previously given a 12-week suspended prison sentence and banned from the roads for 36 months by magistrates.
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