Kim Pilling
A doctor who was caught with 14 Ecstasy tablets at a music festival was yesterday allowed to keep his licence to practise.
A General Medical Council panel told Dr Fraser Gibb they were satisfied he only used drugs to "enhance your life, not to prop it up" and they believed there was no significant risk of him reoffending.
Dr Gibb, 41, of Steilston, Dumfries, was convicted at Kirkcudbright Sheriff Court of possessing the Class A drug at the Wickerman festival in Dundrennan in July 2006 and was fined £400.
Police also discovered two grams of amphetamine and three grams of cannabis resin when they searched his vehicle. All the drugs were contained in his glasses case on the back seat.
The fitness to practise panel, sitting in Manchester, found Dr Gibb guilty of misconduct and imposed a number of conditions against his licence for the next 18 months.
Among the conditions were he does not possess illegal drugs, except in the discharge of his clinical duties, and he must be supervised at all times. The panel stated: "It is satisfied that since the incident in July 2006 you have shown considerable insight into, and remorse regarding, the conduct and behaviour which led to your conviction and subsequent appearance before this panel.
"During your evidence you described your behaviour as foolish and said that you used drugs to enhance your life, not to prop it up.
"The panel is further satisfied that there is not a significant risk of such behaviour recurring."
The panel also concluded Dr Gibb did not give false personal details when questioned by officers at the festival.
The hearing was told Dr Gibb had been abstinent from illicit drugs since the event, which was supported by toxicology screening and blood tests, and had since set aside his "ill-judged lifestyle choice".
Colleagues at Dumfries and Galloway NHS Trust said the locum consultant psychiatrist at Crichton Royal Hospital was an asset to the trust and preventing him from working would not serve any purpose for patients.
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