GMC'S BIGGEST CASE PUT ON HOLD

A GENERAL Medical Council case against seven doctors at a private clinic
for heroin addicts accused of serious professional misconduct was adjourned
yesterday until the autumn because one of the doctors is seriously ill.

Dr Colin Brewer, the founder of the controversial Stapleford Centre clinic,
faces the bulk of the charges relating to the controversial treatment of
drug addicts.

Six men and one woman are alleged to have mis-prescribed medicine by
issuing excessive amounts and the wrong types, as well as providing
irresponsible combinations of drugs such as methadone and rohypnol.

After hearing a private application for an adjournment from Dr Brewer's
counsel, the GMC professional conduct committee, sitting in London, ruled
that to continue would be "unfair" and prejudicial to the inquiry.

The chairman of the committee, Denis McDevitt said: "The basis for the
application for an adjournment is that Dr Brewer has recently become
seriously ill and if the hearing continues today will be unable to attend
or participate in the hearing of the inquiry.

"The committee has received medical evidence from three doctors, including
a doctor retained on behalf of the council, to this effect."

The string of mis-prescription allegations, which form the largest case
ever heard at the GMC, relates to 16 patients stretching back to 1990. The
doctors are also accused of failing to take steps to ensure that the
prescribed drugs did not end up being sold on the black market.Dr Brewer is
accused of serious professional misconduct in relation to 13 of the 16
patients.

The other six doctors, some of whom no longer work at the clinic, are
Anthony Haines, Hugh Kindness, Nicolette Mervitz, Martin O'Rawe, Ronald
Tovey and Timothy Willocks.The case will not resume later than 4 October.