A physiotherapist, Bijoy Bridewin Thomas, 45, has been suspended from practicing in the UK after being convicted of drunk driving in March 2024. He was found to be more than three times the legal alcohol limit when he was observed "swerving all over the road."
Thomas, an Indian national, also pleaded guilty to driving without a license or insurance. He received a ban from driving for two years and two months, a community order, and was ordered to pay £249 in costs.
During proceedings before the Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service (HCPTS), Thomas stated that in India, "drink-driving is not taken as seriously as it is in the UK" and that he "did not think that drink-driving was that serious." He indicated that he did not consider it a criminal offense and that driving while intoxicated is "not taken seriously in India."
Thomas, who operated Reliefsake Physiosolutions in Stoke-on-Trent until its dissolution in November, also told the hearing that driving without a license or insurance is considered a serious offense in India.
The HCPTS found that despite expressing some remorse, Thomas "did not appear to appreciate how his actions could have resulted in very serious consequences." The panel noted that ordinary members of the public would be concerned by his conduct and that service users might lose trust in the profession and regulatory process if no action were taken.
The tribunal also acknowledged Thomas's personal and business circumstances at the time, describing it as a "turbulent and chaotic time" marked by financial issues and a patient incident that he found disturbing, leading him to feel he was "not in the right mind" when charged.
Thomas, who had been practicing in India since 2007 before working in a registered role in the UK for three months prior to the incident, told the panel he had "tried his best and made efforts to better himself." He also mentioned a belief that divine intervention had led to positive changes in his life.
Despite Thomas's attempts to frame the drunk driving as a "mistake," the HCPTS characterized his actions as "deliberate, reckless and negligent."
Following his suspension from practicing in the UK for 12 months, Thomas has since founded a new venture in India called Physiotherapy Yaanam. The business aims to address challenges in the physiotherapy industry, focusing on strategy, quality analysis, mentoring, and practice development.
Online, Thomas describes himself as dedicated to "shaping the future of physiotherapy through clinical excellence, structured practice systems, and professional mentorship," and claims nearly 20 years of experience. He also posts AI-generated content depicting himself treating patients or meditating, accompanied by messages about ethical conduct and ancient Indian medical scholars.