A DOCTOR who bit one of his colleagues on the face during an altercation has avoided being struck off after a formal tribunal was concluded by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS).

Dr Vishal Kumar, who had been practicing as a trainee in orthopaedics and trauma at Colchester Hospital, admitted in September 2020 to biting a fellow trainee doctor with whom he was sharing rented accommodation.

It was just one of four allegations which were admitted by Dr Kumar, who was proved to have pushed, bitten, and been verbally abusive to his colleague, who has been kept anonymous.

The fracas, which started after Dr Kumar verbally abused his colleague, also saw Dr Kumar suffer tendon damage to one of his fingers from the other doctor.

But the results of the MPTS, which were published last Tuesday, found Dr Kumar’s fitness to practice had not been impaired by the incident.

The decision was reached after a range of documents were submitted to the tribunal, which included statements relating to the event from both doctors, and an enquiry report compiled by the director of medical education at the East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust (ESNEFT).

Evidence also submitted included a formal warning imposed on Dr Kumar’s registration for a conviction for drink driving, two photographs of his victim’s face, and Dr Kumar’s letter of apology to his victim – which was provided two years after the incident took place.

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Representing Dr Kumar, Mary O’Rourke KC said her client had acted out of self-defence.

Ms O’Rourke went on to remind the tribunal that Dr Kumar had expressed remorse and had not repeated such conduct in the following two years.

If Dr Kumar’s fitness to practice was deemed to be impaired, Ms O’Rourke argued, it would negatively impact upon his ability to complete his training.

Although the tribunal concluded Dr Kumar’s actions did amount to serious misconduct, it did not find his fitness to practice had been impaired.

He was instead issued a formal warning.

Dr Angela Tillett, ESNEFT’s chief medical officer responded to the incident by saying the trust had fully co-operated with the MPTS.

She said: “We always work closely with all regulatory bodies to make sure professional standards are upheld by all our staff.”

Dr Kumar no longer works at Colchester Hospital because his placement at ESNEFT ended last month.