Meat co. man posed as surgeon

Press, 18 July 1979, Page 8

Meat co. man posed as surgeon

| NZPA-Reuter London : A former meat company employee posed as a surgeon and conducted numerous operations without medical training or qualifications, the Central Criminal Court in London has been told. Francis Murphy, aged 30. pleaded guilty in the Old Bailey to three charges relating to activities 'as a bogus doctor and was jailed for two years. i During a3l week stint at Redhill General Hospital, Surrey, Murphy carried out 17 operations on men and women of all ages, the court heard. These included an amputation and work on arms, hips, fingers, upper and lower legs, a woman’s ankle, and a toe. Murphy assumed the identity of a Sheffield doctor friend, and though he had no training or qualifications also worked in hospitals in Ireland, his home country, and Roehampton, the prosecution said. Murphy had a brother named Anthony Joseph Murphy and “at some stage” was in possession of his birth certificate. He used this to obtain the necessary documents which enabled him to practise as a doctor. In Sheffield he had met a doctor, named Anthony John Murphy, who qualified there but emigrated to Australia. In May, 1977, he applied to the General Medical Council for a certificate of good standing, eventually using the Sheffield doctor’s name. He then got a iob at Redhill. It was noticed that Murphy’s work was not efficient and after a few weeks he was dismissed. He gave the impression of having basic medical knowledge but very little surgical experience. The police then told the court that Murphy fled to America, New Zealand, Europe, and Australia, where he was arrested on a charge of false pretences and sentenced to six months jail. Later he was deported and on his arrival at Heathrow • was arrested for the offences at Redhill.

In Murphy’s defence, counsel said the certificate of good standing had a life of only three months, but was never produced in Britain to any medical authority.