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Rugby player: Maidstone consultant cut my lip in bloodgate scandal

Questions remain over whether a Maidstone A&E consultant will face any official disciplinary hearing, after she was named as allegedly playing a key role in Rugby’s "bloodgate" scandal.

Harlequins wing player Tom Williams claimed in his appeal hearing last month that Dr Wendy Chapman cut his mouth with a scalpel, while working as one of the match day doctors.

But the full judgement published on Wednesday by the European Rugby Club Disciplinary Appeals Committee, stated a case had not been established against the consultant, who was cleared at an earlier hearing.

Any case against the consultant would have to be brought as part of new disciplinary proceedings and the General Medical Council has not confirmed whether any complaints regarding her conduct have been made.

Williams bit into a blood capsule during the match in April, to allow another player to return to the field in the quarter final of the Heineken cup match, between Harlequins RGC and Leinster, in April.

He was banned for 12 months but this was reduced to four months on appeal.

In his appeal hearing, the player told a panel of the European Rugby Cup Disciplinary Appeals Committee he had bitten into the capsule successfully and was "not injured."

As he left the pitch fellow players and officials followed him with some suggesting the blood was not real.

He added: "Wendy Chapman met me at the tunnel and escorted me into the club’s medical room.

"I realised there was a risk someone would inspect my mouth. If they did it would have been clear that I had not suffered an injury. In the circumstances it seemed to me the only solution was to cut my lip. I believe it was at this point that I asked Wendy to make the cut.

"I cannot recall what was said but I do remember she was not happy about it. We were both anxious and the atmosphere was extremely tense.

"I believe Wendy pulled down my lip and attempted to cut it with a scalpel. She was initially too gentle and needed to try again to open a cut. It was a clean cut and she put gauze on it and told me to apply pressure. It took a long time for the bleeding to stop."

The consultant has not yet had the opportunity of responding to the player’s version of events. The Kent Messenger has been unable to contact her.

Williams told the hearing the consultant was a "victim" of events and had been extremely uncomfortable at being asked to make the cut.

A spokesman for the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust confirmed she is still working at Maidstone A&E and has not been suspended.

A spokesman for the General Medical Council, said Chapman was still fully registered to practice as a doctor. The organisation would not confirm if any complaints had been received about the consultant, as confirmation a doctor is facing a conduct hearing is only given when a hearing is scheduled.

Have you been treated by Dr Wendy Chapman? You can leave your comments below or contact our newsdesk on 01622 695666 or messengernews@thekmgroup.co.uk

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