London, Aug 22 (IANS) An Indian-origin pathologist, who conducted the first post-mortem examinations on a man who died in the 2009 G20 protests in London, is not fit to practice, a British tribunal has ruled.
Freddy Patel wrongly said Ian Tomlinson died from heart problems, BBC reported.
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service said his work was “deficient” and the service will now decide upon sanctions.
Policeman Simon Harwood, who had pushed Tomlinson to the ground but was cleared of manslaughter, now faces police disciplinary proceedings.
Patel’s conclusion that Tomlinson died of a cardiac arrest was questioned when a recording emerged showing him being pushed and struck with a baton by the policeman.
Further medical reports suggested he had actually died from an injury to his liver that caused internal bleeding and then cardiac arrest.
The tribunal said Patel had “brought the profession into disrepute”, that his integrity could not be relied upon and that he had breached one of the “fundamental tenets of the profession” through his dishonesty.
Tomlinson’s widow Julia said Patel’s “incompetence” had given the family “an uphill battle for justice from the start”.
“He (Patel) misled everyone saying that Ian had died of a heart attack when, in fact, he had died of internal bleeding.”
“It’s good that people can see some of the things we have been up against… I would like to know why with all the good pathologists there are he was selected to do the first post-mortem,” she said.
The tribunal said Patel, who is currently suspended, did not change his view despite the findings from other pathologists and had displayed a closed mindset.
Last year, Patel was given a four-month ban for dishonesty and omitting key findings after examining the body of a murder victim who he said had died from natural causes.
He has also served a three-month suspension for failings in other cases and is no longer on the official register of approved forensic pathologists.
