Father's anger at doctor ruling

Laura Stevenson, who was treated by Dr Holton in the 1990s

Parents have condemned a decision to allow a doctor to continue practising after he wrongly diagnosed hundreds of children with epilepsy.

Dr Andrew Holton misdiagnosed more than 600 children at the Leicester Royal Infirmary over a 10-year period.

Adrian Stevenson, whose daughter Laura, now 23, was treated by Dr Holton spoke of his anger at the General Medical Council's "shameful" decision.

He told Radio 4's Today programme that the doctor "destroyed" his daughter's education in her late teenage years.

She couldn't walk and could hardly speak and had to be helped to the toilet Adrian Stevenson

"We're still not certain that she hasn't got epilepsy but it's not the diagnosis we are particularly concerned about. It is the amount of drugs she was prescribed," he said.

Mr Stevenson added that between 1993 and 1998 the drugs she was taking resulted in her being hospitalised and suffering fits up to 30 times a day.

"She couldn't walk. She could hardly speak and had to be helped to the toilet - this at a time when she was taking her GCSEs."

Mr Stevenson said he eventually took his daughter out of hospital and reduced her medication against medical advice.

He added: "It's not an unusual story, it's not the worst story but it is a traumatic, damaging and family life affecting story.

"You can be assured that we will not let this lie."

'Public protection'

Mr Stevenson, who is chairman of the Leicester Epilepsy Parents Group said families affected by Dr Holton's actions may approach the Council for Regulatory Health Care Excellence.

"If they believe, as we do, that there has been an injustice here, they can apply to the High Court, who can then overturn this decision."

In a statement on its decision, the General Medical Council's fitness-to-practise panel told Dr Holton: "Having found that the standard of your professional performance has been seriously deficient, the panel considered whether it is sufficient to direct that your registration should be subject to conditions.

"It decided that conditions are sufficient and necessary for the protection of the public and are proportionate."

The set of conditions imposed on Dr Holton's registration will last for three years, and include ongoing assessments and improvement of his skills in communication with patients.