Should This Alcoholic Have Been Spared Jail?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5253629/Doctor-escapes-prison-drink-driving-twice.html

[Peter Pedant]

No one has mentioned GMC fun

Likely to lose her licence to practise - certainly will have conditions imposed which makes in itself it more difficult to find a job.

[baza]

I seem to recall a recent case of a druggie quack getting away with stabbing a bloke, perhaps the wrong people are training as medics, I would not wish to be treated by either. A 2 year ban and 12 months inside end of.

[hc4361]

A suspended sentence for drink driving is not at all unusual. A few examples:

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/whos-court-drink-driver-given-13263865

http://www.dudleynews.co.uk/news/15467992.Before_the_courts__Suspended_sentence_for_drink_driver/

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/banned-drink-driver-avoids-jail-4203044

https://www.millarssolicitors.co.uk/suspended-sentence-spectacular-drink-driving-case/

These cases haven't made the Mail because they are not attractive, successful professional women or media stars.

[baza]

Good point hc, but I still would not like her as my doctor.

[hc4361]

No, nor me.

[jno]

lucky lady.

[douglas9401]

This seems to be a bit like watching these ride-along programmes with English police forces.
Ned steals car and leads cars and helicopters a merry dance over hill and dale only to end up having a laugh with his pursuers at the station and getting a comedy sentence.
We have an altogether sterner regime north of the border.

[andy-hughes]

I am always a vociferous critic if our drinking culture, and would normally say that this woman should have been jailed.

However, although the Mail does (as usual!) infer that her looks and brains should act as a get-out-of-jail-free card - it does grudgingly manage to report that she is not getting away unpunished.

Specifically, she has a suspended sentence, a fine, community service, and most damning of all, a potential restriction to her future career path, which is far more than the average drunk driver receives.

Coupled with the fact that she has sought therapy and sold her car, I think the sentencing is correct.

[hc4361]

douglas, plenty of drink drivers caught in Scotland just get fined and disqualified - like the taxi driver who was over twice the limit when he had a fare paying passenger in his cab.

[anotheoldgit]

andy-hughes

/// Coupled with the fact that she has sought therapy and sold her
car, ///

I would think that it would be a wise move to sell her car, no sense in it depreciating in value, locked up in her garage for 3 years.

[Peter Pedant]

I wouldnt like her as my doctor
well should be OK in the morning clinic but evening house calls may be a bit iffy
and I mean we all have a choice and alodda people chose nice Dr Dhipman

[Peter Pedant]

erm sorry I meant
for evening house calls - you'd better lay in some Chivers Regal

[Peter Pedant]

[ I find AOG's high minded moralistic musings all very - - - -
sobering]