Health and Care Professions Council determination — substantive hearing
HCPTS gives David McEwen a 12-month caution
The paramedic was cautioned for a domestic-violence conviction despite strong remediation, genuine remorse and a low risk of repetition.
MedicWatch editorial · Published 3 October 2024 · Updated 23 September 2026
Warning (formally warned) — 1 year
Data last checked: 23 September 2026Report a correction
What does “formally warned” mean?
A formal warning is a note on the practitioner's record. It does not restrict practice but tells the public that the regulator considered the conduct to have fallen below expected standards.
Concerning David McEwen, paramedic (Health and Care Professions Council PA44817).
Decision date: 3 October 2024 · Hearing started 2 October 2024 and ended 3 October 2024
In plain English
The HCPTS panel gave paramedic David McEwen a 12-month caution for a domestic-violence conviction. It found that he had genuine remorse, strong insight and comprehensive remediation, making repetition unlikely. Nevertheless, the violent conduct breached a fundamental professional standard and required a sanction to uphold public confidence in paramedics.
Charges
Mr McEwen was convicted at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates' Court in March 2021 of assault by beating after a domestic altercation in which he pulled a person out of a property and then put her in a headlock.
Findings
The panel found the conviction proved and concluded that Mr McEwen was remediated, insightful and unlikely to repeat the conduct, so he posed no personal risk. However, domestic violence breached a fundamental professional tenet and required a public-interest finding of impairment. It imposed a 12-month caution to mark the seriousness.
Mitigating and aggravating factors
Mitigating factors
Genuine remorse and demonstrated insight; proactive remediation through reflection, education and training, openness with his employer and colleagues, and maintaining a support network; glowing references from managers and colleagues who knew about the HCPC proceedings.
Aggravating factors
The conviction involved domestic violence.
Source
All facts on this page are drawn from the publicly published Health and Care Professions Council determination linked below. MedicWatch does not editorialise the regulator’s findings.
Spot something incorrect?
If a fact on this page is wrong, or you believe the page should not be published, please submit a correction or takedown request.