Ormskirk Hospital gas doctor Jonathan Chahal GMC verdict angers health campaigner

Jul 23 2009 by Michael Byrne, Ormskirk Advertiser

A WEST Lancashire health campaigner has criticised a General Medical council decision to allow a doctor who inhaled laughing gas while on duty at a children’s A&E ward to continue to practise.

A General Medical Council disciplnary panel ruled last week that Dr Jonathan Chahal’s fitness to practise had been impaired because of misconduct while working at Ormskirk Hospital.

Panel members had heard evidence he had indulged in “Entonox parties” while on duty at the hospital.

The hearing was told Dr Chahal, 33, used the medical anaesthetic Entonox from a gas canister on five occasions during the summer of 2007 – four of which were while he was on duty.

He also persuaded seven nurses to inhale Entonox – frequently administered in childbirth to alleviate pain – at the same time as him.

On one occasion he was heard giggling in the ward’s resuscitation room and told nurses the drug was “fun” and “made you feel floaty”.

Dr Chahal was sacked from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital – where he later transferred – after the allegations came to light. There were no patient safety implications at Alder Hey.

A General Medical Council (GMC) panel ruled yesterday that public interest was best served by imposing a number of conditions on his registration for the next 12 months.

Lawyers acting for the GMC had argued that the senior house officer’s behaviour warranted at least a suspension after his fitness to practise was found to be impaired.

Joan Morrison, a West Lancashire health campaigner, said: “I thought it was a strange decision.

“If he has been inhaling noxious gas this would call into question his right to be able to carry on.

“I would not like to be treated by him.”