updated: 2 July 2024
The General Medical Council (GMC) will refer an Ashfield anaesthetist to a medical practitioners tribunal, and call for him to be struck off the medical register. Dr Edward Finn was sentenced last week after admitting sexually assaulting a child patient at Kings Mill Hospital in Sutton. Finn, who had worked in hospitals across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, also admitted making indecent images of children and other patients.
At the time of his arrest Finn was working at University Hospitals Nottingham. He was immediately excluded from Trust premises pending the outcome of the police investigation. The GMC were notified of his arrest in November 2023, and opened their own investigation, working closely with the Trust and Nottinghamshire Police.
In February this year, the independent Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service made an interim orders, suspending Dr Finn until the conclusion of the GMC investigation.
Last Friday, after Finn pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault of a child aged under 13 by touching, three counts of making indecent photographs of children, three counts of taking indecent photographs of children, and two counts of voyeurism, between July 2015 and November 2023, Finn was sentenced to eight years in prison with a four year extension on licence. He will be on the sex offenders register indefinitely and was made the subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and restraining order.
With the criminal case concluded, the GMC can now proceed to refer Finn’s case for to the independent tribunal service for a determination on whether he can ever return to medicine.
A GMC spokesperson’s described Finn’s behaviour as “the ultimate betrayal of trust.”
The spokesperson said: “Patients and the public have a high degree of trust in doctors; that trust is put at risk when a doctor commits such deplorable offences. There is no place for criminals like this in the medical profession.
“Dr Finn has been suspended from treating patients pending the conclusion of the criminal proceedings against him and a GMC investigation. Any doctor who receives a custodial sentence is automatically referred to a medical practitioners tribunal, and for convictions such as serious sexual offences, we will always call for the doctor to be struck off the register.”
Dr Fiona Donald, the President of the Royal College of Anaesthetists, the professional body for anaesthetists, said: “Our thoughts are with the victims of the appalling crimes committed by Edward Finn. The General Medical Council has suspended his licence to practise and his membership of the Royal College of Anaesthetists will be terminated.”
