RVI Doctor to Continue Practising After Anaesthetic Misuse

A doctor who inhaled substances taken from anaesthetic machines while working at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary was allowed to continue practising after a medical tribunal concluded that his fitness to practise was not impaired.

Dr Ross McDowell had been working as an anaesthetist at the RVI in Newcastle when the incidents took place in March and April 2024. The Medical Practitioners Tribunal heard that he took substances from anaesthetic machines at the hospital and administered them to himself when there was no clinical need to do so.

The tribunal found that his conduct amounted to misconduct, but ultimately decided that he had taken sufficient steps to address his behaviour and that his fitness to practise was not impaired.

Colleagues became concerned during Newcastle hospital shift.

The hearing examined a particularly concerning episode during an overnight shift when colleagues had been unable to contact Dr McDowell.

A colleague eventually travelled to the hospital to look for him. When Dr McDowell returned at around 4.55am, he appeared confused and incoherent, was unsteady on his feet and could not explain where he had been. He was subsequently taken to the emergency department as a patient.

The tribunal also considered his response when questioned about what had happened. Dr McDowell later acknowledged his dishonesty and reflected on attempts to prevent what had happened from becoming known.

His actions were particularly significant because he had previously been subject to regulatory action following a separate incident in 2020 involving the self-administration of anaesthetic substances.

Tribunal considered risk to patients and colleagues.

Dr McDowell accepted that his actions during the Newcastle incidents represented a serious breach of trust and that removing himself from clinical availability had created a foreseeable risk to patients and colleagues.

However, the tribunal considered evidence relating to his subsequent insight, reflection and remediation before reaching its decision. It concluded that his fitness to practise was not currently impaired.

Dr McDowell had been excluded from work in 2024 and subsequently decided to leave anaesthetics. He began his first year of GP training in August 2025 after deciding that returning to anaesthetic practice would not be in the best interests of patient safety or his personal circumstances.

RVI remained a major centre for Newcastle healthcare.

The case took place against the backdrop of one of the North East's busiest hospitals. Newcastle Hospitals said the RVI's trauma and emergency centre saw around 138,000 patients every year, while its maternity services helped deliver more than 6,000 babies annually. The hospital had served Newcastle and communities across the North East for more than 250 years.

Newcastle Hospitals also stated that the RVI site contained 44 inpatient wards and departments, three critical care units and 33 operating theatres, highlighting the scale of clinical activity taking place at the city centre hospital.

The tribunal's decision meant Dr McDowell could continue practising medicine, although his career had moved away from anaesthetics and towards general practice.

What do you think.

Do you think the tribunal reached the right decision by allowing this doctor to continue practising medicine?