TV doctor Persaud admits plagiarism

5:10am Tuesday 17th June 2008

TV psychiatrist Dr Raj Persaud has admitted using plagiarised material in a book and articles he wrote.

The doctor, who is famed for his regular appearances on daytime TV shows such as This Morning, admitted plagiarising four articles for his 2003 book 'From The Edge Of The Couch'.

A General Medical Council misconduct hearing in Manchester was told that Dr Persaud also admitted passing off other scholars' work as his own in articles published in journals and national newspapers.

Dr Persaud, who also appeared regularly on BBC Radio 4's All In The Mind programme, denied that his actions were dishonest and were liable to bring his profession into disrepute.

Jeremy Donne QC, GMC counsel, said: "The articles, we say, speak for themselves and they all demonstrate the extent Dr Persaud has appropriated the work of others as his own.

"We further allege that Dr Persaud has been dishonest... Dishonesty can be inferred from his repeated conduct in plagiarising the work of academics... thereby enhancing his professional reputation and standing with the public as well as enhancing himself in the press.

"His book went to the second edition and he was being paid for his articles. All of this was at the expense of the hard work and scholarship of other people."

Mr Donne also accused Dr Persaud of attempting to "exculpate" himself. He said Dr Persaud blamed sub-editors after an article he wrote for the Times Educational Supplement (TES) in February 2005 failed to acknowledge the scholar whose work he plagiarised.

Professor Thomas Blass, of the University of Maryland, USA, complained about the article and was told, in an email by Dr Persaud, that he thought he had given him a mention. Dr Persaud wrote: "When these columns are sub-edited a lot is often taken out and I don't get to see it before it goes out."

The TES acknowledged that Dr Persaud had "copied" the work of another scholar, Mr Donne said. He added: "It's quite clear that the TES were not taking responsibility for subbing errors in their apology."

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