General Osteopathic Council removes Michael Hammond from its Register of osteopaths

Mr Hammond was convicted at Caernarfon Crown Court on 17 July 2017 and given a six-month suspended prison sentence for an offence of voyeurism. Mr Hammond had filmed a sexual encounter with a female victim in his treatment room using a concealed camera without the victim’s consent.

The PCC, chaired by Alastair Cannon, found at its hearing on 21 May 2019, that the criminal offence was materially relevant to Mr Hammond’s fitness to practise osteopathy. In making its finding, the PCC took into account that the conviction was for a sexual offence, it had taken place in a treatment room at an osteopathic practice, and involved a victim who had at one time been a patient of Mr Hammond’s.

In reaching its decision, the PCC observed that ‘membership of the osteopathic profession is a privilege which, among other things, accords members a trusted status in the eyes of the public. Mr Hammond’s conviction and the behaviour that led to it are particularly corrosive to that trust’.

The PCC considered that the registrant’s conviction represented the clearest possible departure from professional standards and was fundamentally incompatible with his continued registration. It decided that the removal of Mr Hammond’s name from the Register was necessary to maintain confidence in the profession and uphold professional standards.

Mr Hammond has 28 days to appeal against the PCC’s decision (made on 21 May 2019).

Read the full hearing decision

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) is the regulator of osteopaths in the UK.

2. The General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) has a statutory duty to regulate the practice of osteopathy in the UK. Osteopaths must be registered with the GOsC to practise in the UK.

3. The GOsC works with the public and the profession to promote patient safety by:

• registering qualified professionals;
• setting, maintaining and developing standards of osteopathic practice and conduct;
• assuring the quality of osteopathic education;
• ensuring continuing professional development;
• helping patients with concerns or complaints about an osteopath.

4. The General Osteopathic Council’s Professional Conduct Committee is an independent statutory committee. It hears cases concerning serious unacceptable conduct, incompetence or criminal convictions. If the Committee finds any such case proved, it imposes an appropriate sanction on the osteopath.

5. The statutory Register of osteopaths provides a geographical index of all practising osteopaths and is available to the general public at osteopathy.org.uk/register-search

For further information contact:

General Osteopathic Council Press Office
020 7357 6655 x245
pressoffice@osteopathy.org.uk