Dr Bharat Berry up before the General Medical Council (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Dr Bharat Berry up before the General Medical Council

5:29pm Tuesday 17th November 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

A DOCTOR is up before the General Medical Council after admitting to prescribing under-the counter anti-obesity pills.

Dr Bharat Berry who used to operate at the NHS surgery, in Maynard Court, Waltham Abbey, began a Fitness to Practise hearing this week facing multiple counts of misconduct.

Dr Berry has already admitted to many of the charges he is facing including that he prescribed the class C controlled drugs Phentermine and Diethylpropion to slimming patients.

He is said to have charged over 20 patients for the drugs without checking their medical records, or offering advice despite knowing the medicine could induce dependency and produce side-effects.

Patients who didn't meet the body mass requirements needed to prescribe the drugs were still offered them.

Dr Berry operated his Waltham Abbey practice as a GP between 1996 and 2006.

During that time he is said to have instructed his non-medically qualified practice manager Janice Hutton and his secretary Christine Forde to forge his signature on prescription forms.

He is also said to have asked his receptionist Donna Rule to provide false evidence to the PCT, and has admitted offering Ms Hutton's son Robert £200 if he would take the blame for a speeding offence he had committed.

Dr Berry admits his conduct was inappropriate, but denies it was irresponsible, and not in the best interests of patients.

His hearing, at the GMC's London offices, is due to last until December 11.