Susan Whitehead

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

Ms Whitehead, a solicitor admitted in 1974 and partner at Ferguson Bricknell, admitted two allegations of dishonest and misleading conduct. She caused an LPA to be filed with the OPG bearing an inaccurate signing date of 9 July 2021 that she knew to be false, acting as certificate provider despite a restriction due to her personal relationship with the vulnerable Client A. She also gave a false name (that of a friend of Client A) when telephoning a hospital to obtain Client A's confidential medical information, to conceal her call from Client A's family. The Tribunal, dealing with the matter on the papers by agreed outcome, found the admissions properly made and expressly found dishonesty. It ordered her struck off the Roll and to pay costs of £20,000.

Duties found breached:

• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonest conduct
• Client A was vulnerable with impaired cognitive function
• Instructed parties not to date the LPA and inserted a date she knew to be inaccurate
• Acted as certificate provider despite a restriction due to her relationship with Client A
• Provided false name to hospital to obtain confidential medical information

Mitigating factors:

• Admitted allegations including dishonesty
• Cooperated by agreeing outcome