A DOCTOR accused of sexually assaulting a patient has been struck off the medical register after lying about the incident in his application to work for Scotland's largest health board.
Dr Jose Jacob was sacked from his previous role when the allegation came to light in April last year and became the subject of a police and General Medical Council (GMC) investigation.
However, in September that year, while the probes were still ongoing, Dr Jacob applied for a post with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) as a locum consultant cardiologist.
When asked in his application if he was the subject of any ongoing police investigation or fitness to practise proceedings, he circled "no".
His lies came to light when HR personnel for the health board carried out a number of checks on his application.
A written determination by a panel of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) states: "The panel considered that Dr Jacob’s misconduct was particularly serious, in that it related to providing untruthful and misleading declarations to a potential employer for the purpose of obtaining a locum consultant appointment.
"Furthermore, the allegations being investigated by the police and the GMC, and which Dr Jacob did not disclose on the Form, are of a serious nature and relate to an alleged sexual assault of a patient.
"It is quite clear that Dr Jacob deliberately failed to disclose this information in order to secure the appointment he had applied for with [NHSGGC].
"Such behaviour seriously undermines public confidence and trust in the medical profession and also undermines the confidence a health authority is entitled to expect in the integrity of doctors."
The tribunal heard that the GMC was made aware of the sex assault allegation by the medical director at York NHS Trust.
He was restricted to non-clinical work for a period of time before being dismissed by the trust.
In a fitness to practise hearing in June, the medic said he was "not planning to work until all the investigations concluded by the police and the GMC", however he went on to apply for the post in Glasgow just two months later.
The MPTS panel was provided with a copy of his fitness to practise declaration from the application form.
The determination states: "The Form asked if Dr Jacob has been convicted of a criminal offence or whether he was the subject of an ongoing police investigation which might lead to a conviction. "The Form also asked if Dr Jacob was subject to any fitness to practise proceedings. In response to both questions ‘no’ had been circled.
"The Form had been signed by Dr Jacob declaring that its contents were true."
It found that Dr Jacob's actions had been "misleading" and "dishonest" and ruled that his misconduct was "fundamentally incompatible" with him continuing to practise medicine.
The determination adds: "In the light of all the evidence presented to it, it is satisfied that erasure is a proportionate sanction in this case.
"Accordingly, the panel has determined to direct that his name be erased from the Medical Register."
Dr Jacob, who was unrepresented at the tribunal and is believed to be living in India now in breach of bail conditions, will be struck off the register unless he launches an appeal against the decision.
A spokesman for NHSGGC confirmed that he has never worked for the health board.
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