Pubdate: Tue, 01 Apr 2008 Source: Telegraph and Argus (UK) Copyright: 2008 Newsquest Media Group Contact: http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4627 Author: Michael Black Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy) ECSTASY DOCTOR ESCAPED WITH WARNING A young doctor who was caught by a police sniffer dog with ecstasy in his pocket has escaped with a warning from his professional body. Dr Jacob Bayley was exhausted mentally and physically' after a week working night shifts in the run-up to Christmas at Bradford Royal Infirmary, the General Medical Council heard. He bought the drug in a London nightclub on the first night of his two-week Christmas holiday, after he travelled to the capital to see friends. advertisementBut Dr Bayley was caught the next evening with the ecstasy still in his pocket, when a police sniffer dog reacted as he walked through Liverpool Street station and he was immediately searched. Dr Bayley was given a police caution for possessing a class A drug. His bosses at Bradford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust investigated the incident but decided to take no further action. The General Medical Council ruled Dr Bayley's fitness to practice was not impaired, but decided to warn him. Panel chairman Dr Kevin Walters told the hearing Dr Bayley had made one mistake for which he was sorry, and testimonials showed he was otherwise "a hard working, honest and caring doctor". Dr Walters said: "The panel takes a serious view of your conduct in the possession of a Class A drug because such behaviour is capable of undermining public confidence in the medical profession. "However, the panel is satisfied that your behaviour would not have caused patient harm, and you have insight into the circumstances and effect of the incident." Dr Bayley qualified at Leeds University in July 2005, just six months before the ecstasy incident, and began work at the Bradford hospital almost immediately. In the week running up to Christmas he had been working night shifts on a busy acute surgical ward, and in a letter to the GMC claimed he was "both exhausted physically and mentally". He began his two weeks' leave on December 15, and that night travelled to London and bought the drugs. The following evening at about 7.30pm, a police sniffer dog reacted as he walked through Liverpool Street station. Dr Bayley co-operated fully with police and on March 4, 2006, he received an official police caution. He informed his hospital bosses and the GMC, as is his obligation. Dr Bayley will now have a warning on his record, which will last five years and all employers will be informed. He is otherwise free to practise as a doctor. - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath