A HOSPITAL consultant has been found guilty of misconduct after cheating while studying for a new qualification.

Dr Gordon Shepard, who works at the Royal Bolton Hospital, has been told by a General Medical Council (GMC) hearing his fitness to practice is impaired as a result.

The organisation will now decide what sanction, if any, to impose on the respected doctor.

The panel heard allegations the consultant orthopaedic and trauma surgeon submitted assignments which plagiarised coursework previously handed in by another student on the course.

Dr Shepard, who also works at BMI Beaumont Hospital, Bolton, initially admitted eight of 12 offences.

After the evidence was presented to the GMC, he admitted the remaining four.

The panel then found his actions to be “misleading and dishonest”.

Dr Shepard was studying to obtain a Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education. He is alleged to have copied another student’s work during a distance learning course with the Centre of Medical Education, at the University of Dundee, Scotland.

The panel has said the conduct “clearly breached a fundamental tenet of the profession”.

Dr Shepard has been told his fitness to practise is impaired because of this misconduct, which the hearing concluded “brought the profession into disrepute”.

The panel was told he regretted the actions and could not understand them.

The GMC will now consider sanctions.