Leading IVF doctor due before GMC

Britain's most successful IVF doctor will appear before a disciplinary panel today.

Mohamed Taranissi is set to deny allegations over his treatment of two female patients at his London clinic.

He is accused of failing to keep proper medical records, carrying out inappropriate tests and acting in an insensitive manner in his treatment of the women.

Experts from the General Medical Council (GMC) will hear the charges against him at a meeting in central London.

Mr Taranissi, who runs the Assisted Reproduction and Gynaecology Centre (ARGC) in London, said earlier this month he would "definitely refute the allegations" but declined to comment further.

In respect of one patient, it is alleged that he "failed to keep proper medical records, applied inappropriate pressure on her to undergo immunological testing and suggested that she undertake treatment with an unlicensed medicine".

In relation to a second patient, the allegations say he "failed to undertake an examination or carry out an investigation to ascertain the cause of the patient's illness, failed to maintain proper medical records and his communication with the patient's husband was insensitive, lacking in compassion and defensive."

Mr Taranissi hit the headlines last year after investigations by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).

The HFEA raided his clinics - the ARGC and the Reproductive Genetics Institute (RGI) on April 30 - the same day allegations about his conduct were broadcast in a BBC Panorama programme.

In November, he reached an agreement over a libel complaint against the fertility watchdog.

In a High Court statement, the HFEA admitted he had done nothing wrong in offering reproductive immunology treatments and that comments made in the Panorama programme were "not intended to suggest otherwise".

Mr Taranissi is suing the BBC over allegations made in Panorama.

In the High Court case, Mr Taranissi also complained about material on the HFEA website and its refusal to publish the clinic's success rate figures, which are the highest in the UK.

The HFEA accepted that Mr Taranissi was committed to providing the best possible outcome for his patients.

The move followed another High Court ruling last June that the HFEA raids were "unlawful".

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