The former Stephen Hawking nurse banned from practicing in the UK

A former Stephen Hawking nurse was banned from practicing in the UK after regulators discovered that she had "failed to provide the standards of quality and professional care" to the late theoretician physician.

Patricia Dowdy, a registered nurse, faced multiple charges for Hawking's care, including financial misconduct, dishonesty, failure to provide proper care, failure to cooperate with regulators and not to have the required qualifications, the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council announced Tuesday.

"As the public rightly expects, in serious cases such as this one – where a nurse failed in her duty of care and was unable to prove to the committee that she had learned from his mistakes and was fit to exercise – we will take action, "said Matthew McClelland, director of fitness for practice of the CMN in a statement.

"We have been in close contact with the Hawking family throughout this affair and I am grateful to them – as we approach the anniversary of Professor Hawking's death – and to others. we have shared their concerns, my thoughts are with the family at this difficult time. "McClelland added.

Hawking died a year ago, on March 14, 2018, at the age of 76. For decades, the world-renowned scientist has been living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, a neurological disease that was threatening movement.

But Hawking's longevity has surprised many medical experts. ALS can kill a person a few months after diagnosis and there is only a 10% chance that patients will live more than a decade, said ALS.

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According to the Associated Press, Dowdy worked for Hawking from 1999 to 2004, and from July 2013 until the interim suspension in March 2016.

"The Hawking family is relieved that this traumatic ordeal is now over and that, as a result of the verdict, the other victims will not have to suffer what they have been victims of," said the family in a statement.

Contributor: Sean Rossman, United States TODAY & # 39; HUI.

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