Fertility doctor faces GMC panel

Mr Taranissi denies the charges

One of the UK's leading fertility doctors faces a disciplinary hearing at the General Medical Council.

Mohamed Taranissi, who runs the Assisted Reproduction and Gynaecology Centre (ARGC) in London, faces charges relating to his treatment of two women.

He is accused of failing to keep proper medical records, carrying out inappropriate tests and acting in an insensitive manner.

Mr Taranissi has said he will refute the allegations.

In respect of one patient, it is alleged he "failed to keep proper medical records, applied inappropriate pressure on her to undergo immunological testing and suggested that she undertake treatment with an unlicensed medicine".

In relation to the second patient, the allegations say he "failed to undertake an examination or carry out an investigation to ascertain the cause of the patient's illness, failed to maintain proper medical records and his communication with the patient's husband was insensitive, lacking in compassion and defensive."

Raids

Mr Taranissi's premises were raided last year by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) - on the same day that a BBC Panorama programme broadcast allegations about his conduct.

However, the High Court later ruled that the HFEA raids were unlawful.

And, in November, Mr Taranissi reached an agreement over a libel complaint against the fertility watchdog, which admitted he had done nothing wrong in offering reproductive immunology treatments.

Mr Taranissi is also suing the BBC over allegations made in Panorama.