Speeding Psych Asked Colleagues to Lie

As reported by the BBC

A psychiatrist caught speeding asked colleagues to lie to police in a bid to avoid a fine, the General Medical Council (GMC) heard on Monday.

Dr Meenakshi Bakshi of Swindon received three penalty points and a £40 fine after cameras recorded her driving at 60mph in a 40mph zone on the M4.

She was driving to a conference but asked her line manager to tell police she was racing to an emergency.

Dr Bakshi denies the allegations.

Dr Bakshi was later cautioned by Avon and Somerset Police for the offence of using a false instrument - a letter from her manager - in an attempt to get the speeding offence dropped.

The psychiatrist denies the allegations and that her "fitness to practice" was impaired because of her "misconduct".

The hearing in London heard Dr Bakshi had stated the emergency she was attending when caught speeding, in April last year, was at the Southmead Hospital in Bristol.

Marios Labis, of the GMC, told the professional body's Fitness to Practice panel that after being notified of the offence she contacted the police "claiming it to be a medical emergency and asked that the offence be waived".

"She later asked a manager to confirm this in a letter."

At the time of the motoring offence, Dr Bakshi was a Senior House Officer in psychiatry with the Avon and Wiltshire NHS Partnership (Mental Health).

The hearing continues.