Nigerian Doctor Attacked Female Patient Who Disagreed with Diagnosis

A 42-year-old doctor from Nigeria, Abiodun
Bale, assaulted a lady, Sheena Cunningham, as
she tried to leave his consultation room in tears
after they argued over treatment for a facial
condition.
However, the doctor denied assault, when he
appeared in court.
Dr. Bale was found guilty after a two-day trial.
He was given a six-month conditional discharge
but will face a disciplinary hearing at work and
could lose his job.
Dr. Bale, who graduated the University of Lagos
in 1995, worked as a gynaecologist in Nigeria
before coming to the UK and registering with
the General Medical Council in 2006.
He was given a licence to practise here in
November 2009 and was on a placement, for
speciality GP training, at Hyndburn Medical
Practice in Accrington, Lancashire, when the
assault happened on March 26.
Dr. Bale has asked Mrs. Cunningham to come in
to the practice after a telephone consultation
about a problem with her face, during which
she had become distressed.
When she arrived, the doctor told Mrs.
Cunningham she might need to call for an
ambulance if her condition deteriorated later
when the surgery was closed.
She didn't want to do this and at this point he
raised his voice.
Mrs. Cunningham was frightened, got up to
leave and said she wanted a second opinion. Dr.
Bale became agitated and, as she stepped out,
he grabbed her hand to prevent her closing the
door.
This attracted the attention of another doctor
and two cleaners. The other doctor told Bale to
go back into his office and then escorted Mrs.
Cunningham out of the surgery.
The court was told that a week earlier the GP,
who lives in Manchester, 'flipped' at another
patient, shouting at her: "For God's sake, I have
other people to see besides you."
She got up to leave and he tried to grab her
hand. She felt frightened and vulnerable.
Dr. Bale claimed the incident with Mrs.
Cunningham was a misunderstanding, saying:

            "I'm a doctor, not a thug."

However, the prosecution denied his words:
"There was no mistake or
misunderstanding. She was crying so loudly
that two ladies outside heard her crying."
The Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust, which
employs Bale, said he would face disciplinary
proceedings.