Doctor guilty of misconduct

The patient did not die from the treatment

A Suffolk doctor has been officially reprimanded for his treatment of a patient who later died.

A disciplinary tribunal found Dr John Kempton Rees guilty of serious professional misconduct.

Doctor Rees was a consultant at the West Suffolk Hospital when he prescribed an unlicensed drug as a last resort treatment to 74-year-old Charles Topley.

Mr Topley collapsed on the third day of the treatment and died a few weeks later.

It was not suggested the course of action hastened Mr. Topley's death, but Dr. Rees did admit to making serious errors of judgement in going ahead with the treatment.

The General Medical Council's professional conduct committee said the doctor's actions had fallen far below the standard of care expected and found him guilty of serious professional misconduct.

The committee decided a reprimand was punishment enough after having considered Dr. Rees's regret and his prior reputation.