Doctor who punched dementia patient tried to apologise but 'maintains innocence'
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A doctor jailed for punching a dementia patient in the face when they used a racist term has attempted to apologise to the man - and his mother. Dr Xowi Mwimbi, who specialised in elderly care, was working at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in August 2021 when he hit out at the man. Dr Mwimbi had been warned the patient's complex condition could cause outbursts but he retaliated by pushing the man's head and then punching him in the face.
Following a trial at Preston Crown Court, the jury concluded that the doctor was not acting in self-defence and found him guilty of ill-treatment by a care worker. He was jailed for 12 months in February 2024, LancsLive reported. This week the General Medical Council brought a case against Dr Mwimbi before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in which they alleged his fitness to practice was impaired due to his conviction. Dr Mwimbi contested the allegations but the MPTS panel has now ruled his fitness to practice is impaired. The panel will now decide what sanctions to impose which include the possibility of striking him from the medical register.
MPTS documents reveal Dr Mwimbi maintains his innocence and, while he accepts his conviction, he disagrees with the guilty verdict. The documents also reveal Dr Mwimbi attempted to apologise to the patient, and the patient's mother, from his jail cell.
The ruling states: "He went on to explain he wished to apologise to Patient A’s mother and tried to do that whilst in prison, but he was prevented from having any contact with Patient A or the patient's mother. Further, Dr Mwimbi said when he was released from prison, he again tried to apologise, but was advised he could not make contact with her.".
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