STEVEN BURN, cardiologist at Derby Royal Hospital, was found guilty of downloading indecent and prohibited images of boys and girls as young as 7 years old to his NHS work computer. His actions had been uncovered when it was feared that computers were being 'spammed' by pornography websites and his computer was checked by IT staff. It is widely reported that he used terms such as "bestiality", "little Asian girls", "little Japanese girls" and "beautiful little boys" to actively search for this material whilst being logged on to the NHS computer system. He was found guilty of misconduct and sacked by Royal Derby Hospital in October 2014, but the decision over his fitness to continue practicing as a doctor was reached on 2nd of October 2015 by a panel of 3, with evidence gathered by Colin Yule Green. The panel was led by Mr Martyn Green. Despite the nature of Steven Burn's offences and that he had already been found guilty of gross misconduct, the panel DID NOT strike him from the register. This means that he will be allowed to continue working as a doctor while being on the Sex Offenders Register (he will be named on it for 5 years). This ruling by the GMC goes against the call by their own lawyers that Burn be struck off. Steven Burn excused his behaviour by blaming the stress of NHS bureaucracy, which forced him to become withdrawn and isolated, "unfortunately " leading him to access child pornography as a means of coping with that situation. My personal opinion about his excuses aside, this decision by the GMC has set an incredibly dangerous precedent. What will be the result? Appeals for re-registration by those already struck off for similar behaviour? And in the future, those who are convicted will have a better chance of avoiding being struck off themselves. People who need help from the National Health Services are by default vulnerable. They are ill and in need. They may be children or adults. These are people who should be able to trust the professionals who are making life-changing decisions about their care. How would you feel if your consultant, or your child's consultant, was a convicted sex offender? The public should be protected from Steven Burn, and this will be partially achieved by him being STRUCK OFF the Register of Medical Practitioners. It beggars belief that this has not already happened.