Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service determination — substantive hearing
Practising with restrictions — 2 years
The regulator’s term: conditions on practice
What does “practising with restrictions” mean?
Conditions of practice allow the practitioner to keep working but only subject to specific restrictions — for example, supervision, limits on certain procedures, or required reporting to the regulator.
Concerning Sahar Kareem, doctor (General Medical Council 6137192).
Decision date: 1 April 2026 · Hearing started 2 March 2026 and ended 1 April 2026
In plain English
The MPTS tribunal found that Dr Sahar Kareem, a GP in Bedfordshire, drank alcohol at work on 12 April 2023 and was found collapsed at her surgery. Later in 2023 she was convicted of drink driving and being drunk in charge of a child, receiving a suspended prison sentence. She also failed to tell the GMC about the charges. The tribunal imposed conditions on her registration for 24 months with a review and an immediate order of conditions.
Charges
Dr Kareem admitted that on 12 April 2023 she attended work at Shortstown Surgery, consumed alcohol on the practice premises during her shift, and was unfit for work and under the influence of alcohol. She also admitted that on 2 November 2023 at Luton Magistrates Court she was convicted of being drunk in charge of a child and driving a motor vehicle when alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit, and on 22 December 2023 was sentenced to 12 weeks' imprisonment suspended for 12 months, an alcohol abstinence requirement, rehabilitation activity, 180 hours unpaid work and a 36-month driving disqualification. She admitted that she failed to notify the GMC without delay that she had been charged and found guilty.
Findings
The Tribunal found that Dr Kareem's actions on 12 April 2023 amounted to serious misconduct, breaching paragraphs 1, 28 and 65 of Good Medical Practice. Her failure to notify the GMC of her conviction also amounted to misconduct. The Tribunal placed both the misconduct and the conviction at the higher end of the spectrum of seriousness. After considering personal context and Dr Kareem's developing insight, the Tribunal assessed the current and ongoing risk to public protection as medium, and found her fitness to practise impaired by reason of misconduct and a criminal conviction.
Mitigating and aggravating factors
Mitigating factors
Genuine remorse and acceptance of responsibility; full cooperation with the GMC investigation; admission of all charges; pleaded guilty to the criminal charges; significant personal stressors at the time; no previous fitness to practise history; no previous criminal convictions; satisfactory completion of probation requirements (released early on 19 August 2024); evidence of CPD and engagement with treatment; positive testimonials and appraisals from her current employer.
Aggravating factors
Conduct demonstrated a reckless disregard for patient safety and professional standards; consumption of alcohol on practice premises while seeing patients including conducting baby checks; conviction involved being over four times the legal alcohol limit with a child in the vehicle; failure to notify undermined a system designed to protect the public; insight described as developing but incomplete.
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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