To think this judge is being completely unreasonable

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www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-39999312

So a medical student stabs her boyfriend under the influence of drugs and alcohol and the QC says she might avoid a jail sentence as it might influence her job prospects.

I am sorry but I think that if you do the above, then you kiss a medical career goodbye. Not exactly the sort of person I would want to know is a doctor.

Some interesting reading for perspective:

thesecretbarrister.com/2017/05/16/an-oxford-medical-student-stabbed-her-boyfriend-with-a-bread-knife-so-why-is-she-not-going-to-prison/

TLDR: sometimes things are less scandalous and therefore less newsworthy when explained in boring detail.

She should be in prison. She has a long history of violence and rich parents buying her way out of trouble. If someone from a council estate did that, they'd be in prison. She is a dangerous spoilt brat who has never been told no and will continue to behave violently with the expectation of getting away with it.

Nap you can stop trying to minimise and excuse a vicious attack on an innocent person. There is no excuse.

HildaOg I quite agree. I am not sure what sort of sentence but I can't see why she should be allowed to carry on with her studies.

I can't imagine how she could ever legally be allowed near vulnerable people in a professional context. Surely someone with a violent criminal history wouldn't be allowed to work on a hospital with sick people. At least I hope not! Can you imagine your life in her hands?

I'm confused. Does she have a long history of violence? I could only see that she had a long history of drug use and of being a victim of domestic violence herself.

The chances of her being able to practice as a doctor with a criminal conviction for violence, albeit a suspended sentence, and documented long term drug use would not be high I'd have thought. She may not even be able to continue her medical degree - Oxford say they haven't made a decision

Given the number of men let off serious violence charges against women, I'd say this was broadly fair. Only recently a violent man was spared jail because the judge said it would make him hate women even more (?!)

TLDR: sometimes things are less scandalous and therefore less newsworthy when explained in boring detail

This. If you don't understand why a reported event happened as reported, its quite often that there are good reasons that weren't reported.

Do we want someone who has reported drug issues and clearly issues with anger (however sad the reasons causing these) as a heart surgeon? A highly pressured career surely for even the most stable of individuals; this seems to me to be the bigger issue here/

It would be up to the GMC as to whether they would be happy for her to continue to become a doctor in a way. They certainly do allow people who have been rehabilitated to re/enter the profession. Although I am always slightly dubious as to med students who have already decided their career pathway when they are not even half way through.

As an aside, doctors can have drug/alcohol/mental health issues too, and those saying that they shouldn't be allowed to practise, encourages doctors to hide early problems until they turn into monumental problems.

Why would somebody who ends up in court of a GBH charge be allowed to work with vulnerable people?
She isn't working in sales or marketing but a doctor!
To show those anger issues so early on, I don't think she is ready for the profession. It isn't enough to be clever.

yanbu, i agree. she made the decision to act the way she did, thereby having an effect on her career. not to get a consequence because it may have an influence on a position she could get offered is unacceptable, she did it to herself! she should have thought about this before stabbing someone. she should absolutely get a harsh sentence!

How about reading the link that napmeister has posted before commenting? Then you might actually understand a little bit about the case rather than simply demonstrating your ignorance.

nocake Are you normally this rude in rl? Or do you just save your unkindness for internet forums.

I have read napmeister's link and it doesn't make any difference. The fact that the judge is considering that she should be allowed to go back to university to continue her medical studies - this is wrong irrespective of how 'one off' her action is.

hildaog minimise and excuse? By suggesting an alternative source of information and not assuming everything is as simple as a short news article suggests? A huge and unfair judgment on your part there.

I just wonder would anyone want someone with that history operating on them?
I know that there are doctors who have been rehabilitated from drug dependency but I doubt that their actions resulted in wounding someone with a knife. If they did, then I would be very concerned.

Doctors are humans too you know, and fallible. Many doctors will have a history of drug abuse, alcohol abuse etc, and you'd never even know.

I'd also point out that her partner at the time wasn't a vulnerable person, so not sure why you think she's a risk to heart patients?

Ultimately, the judge is giving her a second chance and if she doesn't prove herself between now and September she will go to prison. I imagine you're so perfect that you've never needed a second chance.

Just like the Bashir case....

My worry is the law full stop. I think it's fair to say you stab someone, not in self defence - you go to prison. Of course judges have to operate within existing parameters. It's the existing parameters that puzzle me.

Loss of a promising career shouldn't be seen as extra punishment but a logical consequence of an act of violence.

" I imagine you're so perfect that you've never needed a second chance."

I'm always puzzled by comments like this. The majority of the population haven't committed gbh surely.

I'm not perfect but like most of the population I've never nearly killed someone. That's not normal or 'imperfect'. At best it's deranged and she should be locked up in a secure ward for a very long time, more likely it's just pure fucking evil and she should be in prison for a very long time.

Violent people shouldn't be on the streets until they've been rehabilitated (which she hasn't) and they should never be allowed anywhere near patients with the power of death over them.

What if she loses her temper with one?

Or decides she wants one of her patients husband so feels entitled to off her. She's exactly the type of sociopathic personality that would do just that.

She should not be given the power of life and death over people.

The fact that the judge is considering that she should be allowed to go back to university to continue her medical studies - this is wrong irrespective of how 'one off' her action is

If you read your own article - it's not up to the judge, it's up to Oxford.

Nope. Read naps link still think she belongs in prison and has no right to a career to which she is clearly unsuited. As an ex nurse I would not trust a dr with this history.

Drug and alcohol abuse is rife in the medical profession but not violence like this.

Thanks for the link napmeister, very interesting.

As a general rule if someone with a stable life behaves out of character then I think suspension of a jail sentence is reasonable.

However when she returns to court for sentencing the prosecution service will have had the opportunity to look into her history and present the Judge with their opinion and reasons for sentencing. The victim should have the opportunity to make a statement also. If as I believe it to be the case she has pleaded guilty then witnesses may not have had to give evidence and this would be included in the prosecution's statement. I have a feeling that she may have to serve some time in prison.

It is a concern that with her reported behaviour she should be allowed to return to Oxford. There is no guarantee they will accept her or that with a criminal record she will be accepted for medical training.

NancyWake Yes you are right.