Optometrist suspended for 12 months over misconduct

The UK’s General Optical Council (GOC) has issued a 12-month suspension for misconduct against Mr Stephen Clough, an optometrist based in Manchester.Clough was ordered to desist from practising optometry for bringing disrepute to the optometry profession after he acted inappropriately towards a fale patient during an eye test in Decber 2015.{{quote-A:R-W:480-I:2-Q: The tribunal heard that Clough said that horse riding “gives you a really tight butt”. He then brushed the woman’s hair back, squeezed the top of her shoulder and slid his hand down her arm. }}According to multiple media reports, Clough, who was a practising optometrist at a Value Vision store in Manchester, was attending to the complainant – an equestrienne – when he rarked how the sport improved her figure.The tribunal heard that Clough said that horse riding “gives you a really tight butt”. He then brushed the woman’s hair back, squeezed the top of her shoulder and slid his hand down her arm.The patient then reported the matter to the police and was referred to the GOC as the regulatory authority for the industry.It was also reported that, when Clough heard about the complaint, he wrote a letter to the woman offering cash compensation and free glasses if she withdrew the complaint.In a statent released to the press, the GOC stated that, “the committee had no hesitation making a finding of misconduct… the registrant’s actions were serious and fell well below the standards expected of a registered optometrist.”The GOC further ruled that Clough’s practice was “impaired” due to his behaviour and imposed the highest possible sanction at their disposal “to reflect the seriousness with which it views the registrant’s misconduct.”