UK Nurse Fakes Terminal Illness for Fraud, Struck Off Register
A former UK children's nurse was permanently struck off the nursing register after faking terminal leukemia for three years, defrauding over 215,000 euros for luxury trips, and receiving a two-year prison sentence.
A calculated fraud that shook the UK health system has concluded as a former children's nurse was permanently struck off the nursing register. Amanda Reid, also known as Amanda Mayor, from Edinburgh, deceived relatives, colleagues, children, and medical staff for over three years by falsely claiming she suffered from terminal leukemia and had only months to live.
To maintain the illusion and appear ill, Reid shaved her head daily, took weight-loss medication leading to a sharp drop in her weight, and presented 16 forged medical letters bearing the branding of Spire Edinburgh Hospital. Using these fake letters, she convinced her GP of a fictitious pathology and illegally obtained controlled drugs from the public health system, according to BBC News.
As part of the fraud, Reid admitted to fraudulently obtaining a total of approximately 215,000 euros from the Scottish Public Pensions Agency after claiming benefits intended for terminally ill patients. She used the fraudulent funds, among other things, to finance glamorous trips and a holiday in Dubai. A court sentenced her to two years in prison for the criminal fraud.
Following her criminal conviction, the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) held a disciplinary hearing and decided to permanently ban her from the profession, according to Sky News. The hearing determined that this was prolonged, deliberate, and premeditated conduct for personal financial gain. Reid attempted to claim in her defense that she suffers from Munchausen syndrome, but a social worker's report concluded there was no medical indication for this diagnosis.
