Doctor struck off for dishing out slimming pills at clinic

A doctor who handed out slimming pills for cash has been struck off.

Dr Bharat Berry, 55, prescribed the unlicensed drugs to patients at a private slimming clinic for £10 a visit, the General Medical Council had heard.

The medication contained amphetamines, which left dieters "buzzing" and unable to sleep. Berry gave the pills to "young girls, skinny girls and dancers" and asked his staff to run the clinic in Waltham Abbey, Essex, when he was playing tennis.

He claimed he could not write his name properly because of a sports injury so had secretary Christine Ford sign repeat prescriptions. One receptionist refused to help as she did not approve. The panel heard the GP did not measure the female patients, but asked for their heights to estimate body mass index. He also prescribed the drugs phenetermine or diethylpropion to women in the normal weight range.

After being found guilty of misconduct, Berry was told it was only by good fortune that none of his patients suffered side-effects. Studies show the tablets can lead to addiction and heart problems. The slimming clinic was shut down by Epping Forest Primary Care Trust in May 2006. Berry had admitted a series of charges in relation to his clinic but denied misconduct.