Patient death GP action 'illegal'

Dr Iain Kerr has been accused of inappropriate conduct

A GP broke the law by prescribing sleeping pills to a patient who had talked of killing herself, a medical expert has said.

Glasgow doctor Iain Kerr gave the medication to an 87-year-old woman who went on to commit suicide, a General Medical Council hearing was told.

The 61-year-old doctor had told colleagues he was in favour of assisted suicide, it also heard.

Dr Leonard Peter said Dr Kerr's standards fell below those expected.

Dr Kerr's patient, who had osteoporosis and chronic lower back pain and feared becoming a burden on her family, killed herself using a combination of Temazepam and two other drugs, in December 2005.

'Extraordinary action'

The GP has stated "categorically" that it was not his intention to help the woman end her life by prescribing her Temazepam, three days after she attempted suicide.

GMC expert Dr Peter told the hearing in Manchester it was "clearly illegal" to prescribe drugs to patients so they could end their own lives.

He said: "This is not a matter of clinical judgement . . . It's the obligation on all doctors to oblige the law and act in the patient's interests."

The expert added: "It's really unacceptable for a doctor to prescribe a powerful, potentially lethal drug to a vulnerable elderly person if that doctor is aware they wish to end their life."

Dr Peter said it was an "extraordinary action" to prescribe the sleeping pill, sodium amytal, to the patient because it was effectively proscribed, except in cases of severe insomnia.

However under cross-examination by Dr Kerr's defence lawyer, Michael Mylones, the expert admitted he was incorrect in asserting that Dr Kerr broke the law.

'Inappropriate conduct'

Dr Peter said he had mistakenly believed suicide laws, which prohibit assisting in the act in England and Wales, applied to Scotland.

Those who assist another to commit or attempt suicide north of the Border are usually charged with culpable homicide.

Dr Kerr, who runs an independent practice at the Williamwood Medical Centre in Glasgow's Clarkston area, is accused by the GMC of supplying the suicidal pensioner with sleeping tablets so she could take her own life.

He is further accused of inappropriate conduct after prescribing sleeping tablets to five other patients.

In a written statement, Rhonda Waters, Dr Kerr's practice nurse, said of the patient: "She told me she had to see Dr Kerr so he could check her pills so he could see they were in date for when she wanted to die."

The hearing continues.