Doctor's assault evidence probed

The GMC is considering a series of complaints against Dr Paterson

A hearing into allegations against a consultant accused of providing misleading evidence in child assault cases has resumed.

Dr Colin Paterson, from Longforgan, near Dundee, has gone before a General Medical Council committee.

He gave evidence in court cases where he claimed multiple fractures in young children could be caused by Temporary Brittle Bone Disease (TBBD).

Questions have been raised about his findings but he has denied misconduct.

The 66-year-old is a retired specialist chemical pathologist and also an honorary consultant at Tayside University Hospital NHS Trust.

He was an advocate to his own cause in promoting TBBD even when it does not fit the facts Richard Tyson, GMC

At an earlier hearing, the professional conduct committee heard that Dr Paterson had given evidence in court cases in which he said children who were the subject of assault cases may have been suffering from the phenomenon TBBD.

This was disputed and the GMC acted following a complaint about his evidence made by the head of the English High Court Family Division, Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss.

Dr Paterson has been accused of diagnosing the condition in two youngsters despite medical evidence which did not support his findings.

In both cases, the doctor was acting for parents accused of harming their child.

'Considerable disservice'

Richard Tyson, for the GMC, told the hearing that Dr Paterson used his expert knowledge to "promote his theory".

"He was an advocate to his own cause in promoting TBBD even when it does not fit the facts," Mr Tyson said.

"He lost the dispassionate, objective approach as a medical witness involving children, thus causing children, their parents and the medical profession in general a considerable disservice.

"He seizes any opportunity to use a public forum to seek to promote his theory and give it wider credence."

Expert witness

Dr Paterson appeared on behalf of the parents of a child, known as X, who wanted to stop their daughter being taken into care after she was found to have several fractures.

He also acted as a witness for a couple in Arizona alleged to have harmed their baby daughter, who had 14 broken bones.

In both cases, he was accused by the GMC of failing to fulfil his duty as an expert witness and delaying or prolonging the cases.

The hearing continues.