Doctor 'ignored patient's life-threatening symptoms'

Britain's leading fertility doctor sent a patient with a life-threatening condition home without investigating her symptoms, a disciplinary panel heard today.

Mohamed Taranissi, 53, saw the patient, known as CG, who had been vomiting repeatedly but told her she was suffering from anxiety and that she had a "mental block" about her treatment at his London clinic.

However, hours after leaving the Assisted Reproduction and Gynaecology Centre in Wimpole Street in August 2004, the patient suffered seizures, became unconscious and was rushed to hospital intensive care.

Joanna Glynn QC told a General Medical Council fitness to practice panel that Mr Taranissi's conduct amounted to "a failure of general medical care, specifically to investigate or exam that patient, who was under his care at that time, when she was displaying symptoms that required urgent attention and were ultimately very serious and life-threatening".

Egyptian-born Mr Taranissi also faces misconduct charges relating to another patient, known as IK. It is alleged he pressurised her to have " controversial" tests and encouraged her to undergo them without telling her it was unlicensed.

The 36-year-old woman from Greece had had two miscarriages before attending the clinic in late 2003.

She was allegedly told she needed an immunological bloodtest that would cost £900.

Ms Glynn said that Mr Taranissi had not said this himself but "junior doctors referred to him in all matters of advising and treating patients".

Mr Taranissi denied any misconduct. The hearing continues.