Psychiatrist Kanthiah Appulingam banned for six months by UK General Medical Council for misdiagnosis

June 26, 2007

On or about June 26, 2007, the UK General Medical Council (GMC) banned psychiatrist Kanthiah Appuligam for six months. Dr. Appulingam discharged a patient with a 19-year history of mental troubles from his clinic only to be contacted by the man’s family within two weeks with concerns over the man’s deteriorating condition. Dr. Appulingam told the family he was too busy to see the patient, who shortly ingested a fatal dose of painkillers. The GMC found Dr. Appulingam misdiagnosed the man’s condition, failed to make an adequate risk assessment, discharged him without authority by failing to liaise with the Mental Health Team and did not check records to verify what he was being told by the patient. A GMC panel found the psychiatrist’s actions inappropriate, irresponsible and not in the best interests of Patient A. ¹