Death doctor prosecution probed

UK police are investigating how a German doctor who gave a lethal overdose to a Cambridgeshire man was convicted in Germany.

Dr Daniel Ubani gave David Gray, 70, 10 times too much painkiller while working for a Cambridgeshire health trust.

Police in the UK were conducting their own investigation into the death, when they found he had received a suspended sentence in Germany for negligence.

He will not face a British trial, so prosecutors are to discuss the case.

The doctor, who worked on an out-of-hours contract for Take Care Now on behalf of the NHS, had been called to Mr Gray's home in Manea, on 16 February 2008.

Mr Gray had been suffering pain caused by renal colic and kidney stones.

We weren't initially aware that there was a separate case taking place in Germany, the family weren't aware and something clearly went wrong Det Ch Insp Ian Tandy

The BBC learnt that the Crown Prosecution Service wanted the doctor to face a manslaughter charge in the UK.

But when he was dealt with in Germany he received a nine-month suspended sentence and was fined £4,500 for causing death by negligence.

Det Ch Insp Ian Tandy, of Cambridgeshire Police, led the UK police investigation into Dr Ubani's conduct.

"We weren't initially aware that there was a separate case taking place in Germany, the family weren't aware and something clearly went wrong," he said.

"We want to make sure it doesn't happen again so we're going to have a meeting with German prosecutors to make sure it doesn't."

Health officials in Cambridgeshire last month spoke of their disappointment that Dr Ubani would not face a trial in Britain.

"Although he has been found guilty in Germany, we are concerned that Mr Gray's family may not feel that justice has been done," said Chris Banks, chief executive of NHS Cambridgeshire.

A date for Mr Gray's inquest has not yet been set.