Divorce doctor's poison pen war (From The Northern Echo)
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Divorce doctor's poison pen war
8:00am Monday 20th February 2012 in Darlington
A HOSPITAL consultant subjected her former husband to a smear campaign following a bitter divorce.
Dr Finella Brito-Babapulle, who has been working for County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust as a haematologist, lost an appeal on Friday at Southwark Crown Court, in London, after being convicted of harassment against her exhusband between September 2010 and March last year.
She suggested his new girlfriend was “a Bangkok ladyboy”
and sneaked notes to the woman in her children’s Christmas presents, which read: “Once a gay. Always a gay.”
In a Christmas card to the couple, the blood specialist wrote: “I am happy for you both. I just want back the £430,000 you stole from me in the divorce.”
In emails and text messages to her ex-husband, friends, family and colleagues, Brito- Babapulle, 56, accused him of homosexual affairs and cruising pick-up joints, the court heard.
She denied her texts, emails and notes amounted to harassment, insisting they were not meant to be harmful.
She was conditionally discharged for two years, served with a five-year restraining order and ordered to pay £620 legal costs.
She also appeared last month before a fitness to practise panel of the General Medical Council after treating private patients while on sick leave from Ealing Hospital NHS Trust, in London.
The panel found her actions were inappropriate and dishonest, but despite her misconduct having the potential to put patients at risk of harm, she was spared suspension.
The report stated: “The panel is of the view that your current circumstances are remarkably different from those in 2007 and 2009. It notes that the difficulties in your personal life, which you described as a ‘living hell’ have been resolved.
“You are currently working at County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust,” the report added. “The panel has had regard to the positive testimonial evidence submitted on your behalf from professional colleagues and a patient.
They attested that you are a highly regarded, competent and diligent clinician.”
It went on to describe how a colleague at the North-East health trust said she was a “confident, capable and reliable consultant haematologist”
and her conduct is “both professional and friendly”.
A spokesman for County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust, which covers Darlington Memorial Hospital, Bishop Auckland Hospital, University Hospital of North Durham, Shotley Bridge Community Hospital and Chesterle- Street Community Hospital, confirmed she had been working for the trust.
