A DOCTOR from Oswaldtwistle was blasted by a coroner over her behaviour during investigations into the death of one of her patients.

Coroner Andre Rebello warned Dr Rekha R Ojha that in future he would not hesitate to use the full force of the law against her if she did not co-operate.

PC Susan Blackledge told the coroner's court how she tried on numerous occasions to serve a witness summons on Dr Ojha.

She went to the Kusum Medical Centre, Union Road, Oswaldtwistle and was told that Dr Ojha was at another practice in Blackburn Road, Accrington.

PC Blackledge attended that surgery and was told that Dr Ojha was busy and asked if she could wait. The officer had waited more than an hour when the receptionist said Dr Ojha was refusing to see her.

At that stage PC Blackledge heard the front door open and saw a woman, who the receptionist identified as Dr Ojha, leaving. The officer followed Dr Ojha to her car and asked her to accept "this piece of paper."

"She refused and when I threw the summons on the passenger seat of her car she immediately picked it up and threw it on the pavement before driving off," added PC Blackledge. Mr Rebello said: "That was a very dangerous course of action to take. Are you aware that under common-law it is an offence to obstruct an officer which carries up to five years in prison?

"When I ask doctors to help me by giving evidence I always get total co-operation because doctors realise that the process of an inquest helps families through bereavement," he said.

"I have a public duty to carry out and I expect everyone who is asked, to do just that.

"You obstructed a police officer in the execution of her duty and you littered the pavement. In future I will assume you know what the law is."

Dr Ojha said: "I am a law-abiding citizen and I did not intend to obstruct the justice system. I am apologising."

Mr Rebello said he would accept the doctor's apology.

"You have come to court and I will not take this matter any further, but in future I will not hesitate to use the full force of the law or to report this kind of behaviour to the General Medical Council because I am quite sure this kind of behaviour falls below the standards they expect from members of the medical profession," he added.

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