Junior doctor Preethi Suresh told NHS she was on training day – but got married instead

A junior doctor has been suspended for a year after it was revealed he lied to the NHS by claiming he had attended a training day when he was actually getting married.

Cardiology intern Dr. Preethi Suresh was caught after she “dishonestly” filled out two forms and uploaded a certificate to her professional portfolio and falsely claimed to have attended the training event.

Hoax, Dr. It was discovered by a vigilant monitor that Suresh was on leave and not training.

Confessing the lie is Dr. Suresh claimed he “hit the panic button” because he was in a “chaotic mood” and worried about meeting the training day requirements.

After the hearing, the General Practitioners Court, Dr. It ruled that Suresh had committed serious misconduct, leading to his 12-month suspension.

Dr Suresh received his doctorate from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences in India in 2016.

He was working as a postgraduate doctor on the cardiology training program at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust at the time of the incident.

He had taken leave from February 26 to March 1, 2024 for his upcoming wedding.

The training courses were part of the Annual Review of Competency Development (ARCP) process, and trainees were informed that attendance at approximately 60 percent of the sessions was expected.

A training day was held on February 29 and two QR codes were made available via WhatsApp so people could record their participation and provide feedback.

Dr Suresh completed both the forms and uploaded the certificate to his portfolio, saying he had completed the training day.

Professor Vassilios Vassiliou, MD, consultant cardiologist at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. She noticed that Suresh claimed to have attended the day through his portfolio but she did not see him.

She asked him about it and he admitted that he lied about it being on training day.

She said she “immediately knew it was wrong” and was in a “chaotic mood” leading up to her wedding.

He later removed the certificate from his portfolio.

Testifying at the hearing, Dr. Suresh said that he had difficulty attending the training because he was on duty and that he tried to attend after working the night shift, but this made him tired.

He said he mistakenly believed he should have had about 70 percent attendance at training days and, by his own calculation, thought he was falling short.

In fact, it turned out that he was well above the required attendance at the time and should have simply asked for clarification.

Presiding judge Emma Gilberthorpe said: “[Dr Suresh] He described his actions as seriously fraudulent, but said that when he carried them out, it felt like a single action aimed at obtaining the certificate, rather than a series of separate actions.

“He accepted that this did not excuse his behaviour.

“Dr Suresh accepted that his actions were dishonest and there would be understandable skepticism given the previous MPT warning of dishonesty.

“He said he understood why his colleagues, superiors and the Court might question whether he could be trusted in the future. He noted that a dishonest act could damage years of trust and reputation.

“In both cases, he said, he ‘hit the panic button’ and chose a dishonest short-term option rather than pausing, thinking clearly and seeking support.”

“He accepted full responsibility and said he was not trying to blame his colleagues, his training schedule, his wedding or any other external factors.”

A representative from the General Medical Council, Dr. He said Suresh’s actions were “deliberate” and for “professional interest”.

The hearing raised the seriousness of the misconduct and he was suspended for 12 months with a review hearing at the end of the suspension.

Ms Gilberthorpe said: “The court considered that there were many dishonest acts involved in the incident itself, which occurred in a workplace environment.

“The court accepted that Dr. Suresh ultimately did not receive the benefit he sought because the conduct was detected before it progressed any further.

“However, the potential benefit was assessed to be significant.

“At the time he took action, Dr. Suresh believed that the Certificate and attendance record were important to meeting training requirements and intended to rely on them where necessary.

“The court considered that his intention was to deceive in order to gain a professional advantage in connection with his educational advancement.

“The court took into account Dr. Suresh’s personal circumstances at the time and the pressures surrounding his upcoming wedding.

“However, he agreed with the GMC that these conditions did not sufficiently mitigate the seriousness of the fraud.

“The court accepted that Dr Suresh appeared susceptible to personal stress and was overworked and under pressure.

“However, it concluded that the personal stressors identified did not justify or materially diminish the seriousness of the conduct.

“The court concluded that dishonest behavior occurring in a professional context is a risk to patient safety because it can undermine confidence in professional records, educational systems and clinical practice.”