As a result of the marker’s concerns, Harrison was given a date to attend a virtual hearing with a panel from the university’s school of medicine to defend his case.
He says he prepared well to provide the evidence and defend his case but, on the day, the link to the virtual hearing did not arrive on time.
After emailing the university, he received the link five minutes after the start time for the hearing.
“At this point, I’m extremely nervous about it because I’m thinking this is my one chance to prove myself, to redeem myself – and they’re going to think that I’m just not showing up,” he said.
During the half-hour hearing the student was asked to define the medical terms he used in his dissertation, which Harrison says was a surprise.
“I was so shook up about my start to the hearing,” he said.
“I don’t think I represented myself completely well.”
A week later, he received the decision that the allegations of AI usage had been upheld.
This meant his mark would be capped at seven, just enough to pass, and that the decision would be reflected on his professional record with the General Medical Council (GMC).