A DOCTOR convicted of drink driving has been allowed to return to practice by a medical watchdog.

Dr Haroon Butt, a GP in Milton Keynes, was made the subject of suspension by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in January. But at a review hearing in June, it was decided that the doctor could return to practice.

It followed his appearance in court for drink driving in January 2022, the first time he had ever committed an offence.

Dr Butt was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment suspended for 12 months and disqualified from driving for 36 months after police discovered he was approximately "five times the legal limit". 

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The tribunal service decided at the first hearing that it was necessary to suspend him because of the serious nature of Dr Butt’s actions.

It noted that Dr Butt had knowingly and deliberately drunk an exceptionally excessive about of alcohol whilst intending to drive "creating a dangerous situation where lives were put at risk."

 The Tribunal considered that a message must be sent to the medical profession that this behaviour is unacceptable, in order to uphold professional standards and public confidence. It determined that suspending Dr Butt’s registration would send this message.

Giving reasons as to why he was drunk driving, Dr Butt said: "A friend had passed away from covid which he found difficult particularly given his commitment to the vaccination programme at the time."

He purchased a bottle of vodka after dropping off a friend at the airport, whom he had an argument with.

Dr Butt stated in oral evidence that "he was extremely embarrassed about being in this situation, having never been before the GMC before.

"He accepted full personal responsibility for his actions and that by drinking alcohol he had been ‘stupid and ridiculous’."