Slimming pill GP guilty of misconduct

Phentermine was withdrawn from use

A retired GP from south Wales has been found guilty of serious professional misconduct after prescribing unlicensed slimming pills to patients.

Dr Mohammad Sabbuba admitted selling the tablets but denied the allegations of misconduct at the General Medical Council hearing in Manchester.

Dr Mohammad Sabbuba: Admitted incidents

The accusations followed an undercover investigation by BBC Wales, which included claims that patients were given the Phentermine pills - an appetite suppressant - without being told of the possible side effects.

These reportedly can include dizziness, depression, headaches, high blood pressure, impotence and stomach or intestinal problems.

On Wednesday, the GMC conduct committee concluded that strict conditions should be imposed on Dr Sabbuba, who worked in Caerphilly and continued as a locum and out-of-hours GP after his retirement.

The GP was put on registration for three years and told he could only work within the National Health Service and not in a single handed general practice, either as a principal or as a locum.

Dr Sabbuba was told his conduct had fallen "seriously short" of professional standards and he was told the GMC had a duty to ensure standards were upheld and that public confidence was maintained.

You failed to make arrangements for adequate follow-up and you failed to record the dose of Phentermine prescribed

GMC statement

The committee said it was "very concerned" by the details of the case, which focused on a slimming clinic run by Dr Sabbuba in Caerphilly.

The hearing was told that the GP had supplied the tablets to three women patients at the end of May and early June this year - weeks after the licence for the drug had been withdrawn.

GPs were told not to use the drug on the advice of the Medicines Control Agency.

The committee was critical of Dr Sabbuba for not taking or recording adequate medical, dietary and social histories of patients and failing to carry out adequate physical examinations.

'Unjustified'

A spokesman for the committee which has heard his case, said: "You failed to make arrangements for adequate follow-up and you failed to record the dose of Phentermine prescribed.

"In each of the three cases the committee found that your prescription of Phentermine was inappropriate, unjustified, not in the best interests of the individual and was contrary to accepted medical practice.

"The committee have found proved each of the charges against you in respect of each of the individuals."

The GP was told he had 28 days to appeal against the GMC decision, before it became effective.