Hot-tempered Nigerian medical practitioner attacks Patient who disagreed with examination

Click banner for more info

A Nigerian doctor allegedly attacked womam patient in his surgery when she disagreed with his diagnosis, UK Daily Mail reports.

Dr Abiodun Bale, 42, (pictured above) grabbed Sheena Cunningham as she tried to leave his consultation room in tears when they argued over treatment for a cosmetic condition. 

The physician from Nigeria denied assault when he appeared in court but was found guilty after having a two-day trial. He was handed a six-month  conditional discharge but will face a disciplinary hearing at the job and could lose his job.

Bale, who qualified as a physician at the University of Lagos in 1995, worked as a gynaecologist in his home country before arriving at Britain and registering with the General Medical Council in 2006.

 He was handed a licence to practice in November 2009 and was on a placement, for specialty GP training, at Hyndburn Medical Practice in Accrington, Lancashire, as the assault happened on March 26.

Eddie Harrison, prosecuting, said Bale had asked Mrs Cunningham in to practice after having a telephone consultation of a trouble with her face, during which she'd become distressed.

When she arrived, a doctor told Mrs Cunningham she may need to call an ambulance if her condition deteriorated later once the surgery was closed.
Mr Harrison told Burnley Magistrates'Court: ‘She didn't like to do that and at that time he raised his voice.'

Mrs Cunningham was frightened, got up to leave and said she wanted an additional opinion, the court was told. ‘[Bale] became agitated and, as she stepped out, he grabbed her hand to avoid her closing the entranceway,' Mr Harrison said.

‘Then he grabbed her by the forearm with the hands and tried to drag her back in the room. She screamed and shouted at him to leave her arm. This attracted the interest of another doctor and two cleaners. Another doctor told Bale to return into his office and then escorted Mrs Cunningham out from the surgery room.'

The court was told a week earlier the GP, who lives in  Manchester, ‘flipped'at another patient, shouting at her: ‘For God's sake, I've other folks to see besides you.' ‘She got up to leave and he tried to seize her hand. She felt frightened and vulnerable,' said Mr Harrison.
Bale claimed the incident with Mrs Cunningham was a misconception, saying:

 ‘I'm a  doctor, not really a thug.'

But Mr Harrison said: 

‘There clearly was no mistake or misunderstanding. She was crying so loudly that two ladies outside heard her crying.'  

Following the allegations, the GMC placed conditions on what Bale worked, including allowing him to hold out consultations only when another qualified medical practitioner was present.

The Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust, which employs Bale, said he'd face disciplinary  proceedings.

‘The trust will now consider the effects for his ongoing employment and training,' a spokesman said.

Culled from UK Daily Mail