Fertility doctor 'failed patient'

Mr Taranissi denies the charges

A leading UK IVF doctor dismissed a patient's health fears only for her to end up in intensive care, a General Medical Council hearing has heard.

Mohamed Taranissi is said to have told the woman, who complained of vomiting, that she had a "mental block" about her treatment.

She had attended his London clinic in tears, carrying a bucket in case she was sick, the hearing heard.

Mr Taranissi denies charges relating to the treatment of two female patients.

In the first case, the hearing was told, he displayed a "failure of general medical care" by failing to investigate the cause of the woman's condition.

Instead, it was alleged, he told the woman that she was suffering from anxiety.

The woman saw Mr Taranissi at his Assisted Reproduction and Gynaecology Centre on successive days, on both complaining of vomiting and swollen wrists.

Later on the second day she suffered seizures and lapsed into unconsciousness.

She was admitted to intensive care at London's Whittington Hospital suffering from a rare, life-threatening electrolyte imbalance.

Joana Glynn, QC, for the GMC, told the panel that Mr Taranissi could not have been expected to diagnose the condition - but should not have let the patient leave his clinic without a proper investigation.

Unlicensed drug

Mr Taranissi is also accused of advising a 36-year-old woman to take a drug called Humira, but of failing to inform her that it had not been licensed for fertility treatment.

After the woman, who had already had two miscarriages, refused the drug it is alleged that Mr Taranissi gave the appearance of becoming angry, and effectively told her he could not be held responsible if she had another miscarriage.

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.

A total of 92 current and former patients of Mr Taranissi have signed a petition in support of the doctor.