Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service determination — substantive hearing
No impairment found
Added to MedicWatch: 4 May 2026Report a correction
What does “no impairment found” mean?
The regulator found no current impairment in this decision. Read the decision for its effect on any existing order and check the official register for the practitioner's current status.
Concerning Fergus Douds, doctor (General Medical Council 3481923).
Decision date: 7 November 2025 · Hearing started 3 November 2025 and ended 7 November 2025
In plain English
The MPTS tribunal found that the GMC had not proved its allegation that Dr Fergus Douds slapped a colleague's face on 24 June 2022. The tribunal found the single charge not proved on the balance of probabilities. No finding of impairment was made and the case was concluded in Dr Douds' favour.
Charges
On 24 June 2022, whilst working in the Mental Health Unit at NHS Forth Valley Royal Hospital, Dr Douds was alleged to have slapped the face of Dr A, a Consultant Psychiatrist colleague. Dr Douds denied the allegation throughout.
Findings
The tribunal found the single allegation not proved on the balance of probabilities. The tribunal determined that the GMC had not proved it was more likely than not that on 24 June 2022 Dr Douds slapped Dr A's face. As the only allegation was found not proved, the tribunal did not proceed to consider impairment. The case was concluded.
Source
All facts on this page are drawn from the publicly published Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service determination linked below. MedicWatch does not editorialise the regulator’s findings.
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