BMA apology on Shipman error

The British Medical Association yesterday apologised for a blunder which could have caused the trial of Dr Harold Shipman to collapse, allowing him to walk free.

The British Medical Association yesterday apologised for a blunder which could have caused the trial of Dr Harold Shipman to collapse, allowing him to walk free.

The Attorney General, Lord Williams of Mostyn, is to investigate whether e-mails sent by the BMA constituted contempt of court and whether the body should be prosecuted.

The e-mails contained details of the GP's criminal background which by law had to be kept secret from the jury, so as not as to prejudice a fair trial.

The e-mails were sent to two GPs in the Hyde area and the trial judge, Mr Justice Forbes, said they constituted a "significant risk to the cause of justice".

He added: "There was a high risk that the information could have found its way to members of the jury, which would have placed the entire case in jeopardy, almost inevitably leading to Shipman walking free."

The BMA said it was launching its own inquiry into the e-mails, which included a question-and-answer document preparing members responses to a guilty verdict, when the jury was still considering the evidence. The BMA said: "We are absolutely horrified ourselves at the possibility that an error on our part could have prevented Harold Shipman from being brought to justice."