The body which regulates the medical profession in Britain has said it will carry out a far-reaching review of the way it oversees and disciplines doctors.

The General Medical Council has come under heavy criticism over its failure to suspend the serial killer, Dr Harold Shipman, when it became known that he had a drugs problem.

Under the new proposals, any doctor who was under police investigation or accused of gross incompetence would be suspended immediately.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service