Paediatrician in police probe

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A paediatrician is being investigated by police over a claim he assaulted a child, a hearing has been told.

The accusation against Dr David Southall was made by the parents of the boy - a former patient identified only as Child H - to South Wales police.

Dr Southall, 59, is currently appearing before the General Medical Council.

He faces a potential serious misconduct charge and being struck off after being found to have inappropriately accused a bereaved mother of killing her son.

Richard Tyson QC told the GMC's fitness to practise panel in London: "Mrs H has reported her concerns about Dr Southall's treatment of her son to the South Wales police.

Suspended

"I can say this about that: The South Wales police are investigating an allegation of assault made by Mr and Mrs H concerning their son, Child H.

"It is alleged that Dr Southall was a party to the commission of an offence in July 1991. His exact role in the matter is the subject of ongoing investigation."

The paediatrician is already suspended from child protection work.

He was found guilty of serious professional misconduct by the GMC in 2004 over his role in the case of Sally Clark, wrongly jailed over the death of her two sons.

Dr Southall accused Mrs Clark's husband Steve of murdering the two boys on the basis of a television interview.

Dr Southall worked as a consultant paediatrician at London's Royal Brompton Hospital from 1982 before moving to the same post at the North Staffordshire Hospital in Stoke-on-Trent in 1992.