Support for GP struck off over Iraq death

A CAMPAIGN has been started to reinstate a Northallerton GP who was struck off over failings after the death of an Iraqi detainee.

Those behind the campaign, who say they have almost 800 supporters on a Facebook page and who have organised a public meeting in support of Dr Derek Keilloh, want the decision overturned.

The former Army doctor was struck off for failing to report injuries suffered by Iraqi detainee Baha Mousa at the hands of British soldiers who beat him to death.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Doug Doherty, of Northallerton, who is a patient of the GP, said: “He is just a genuinely nice person and a genuinely good GP.”

Dr Keilloh was a captain and regimental medical officer of 1st Battalion, the Queen’s Lancashire Regiment when he supervised a failed resuscitation attempt to save Mr Mousa’s life. Mr Mousa had been hooded for nearly 24 hours and severely beaten by soldiers from the regiment after they arrested him, wrongly believing him to be an insurgent. He suffered 93 injuries.

Dr Keilloh claimed later that the only sign of injury he saw was dried blood around the nose of Mr Mousa, while giving mouth-to-mouth and CPR.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service announced its decision to ban Dr Keilloh from working as a doctor in December after finding him guilty of misconduct.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The panel heard Dr Keilloh, then aged 28 and only eight weeks into the job, was inexperienced, inadequately-trained and given little supervision or support.

It recognised Dr Keilloh, a GP at Mayford House Surgery in Northallerton, never harmed Mr Mousa and did “everything possible” to save his life. But it ruled he must have seen the injuries and had a duty to act and had showed “repeated dishonesty” when he told court martials and a public inquiry he had seen no injuries.

A public meeting has been organised at the Jolly Minister Public House, Valley Road, Northallerton, at 6pm on Monday. Everyone is welcome to attend.