87-Year-Old Doctor Removed from UK Medical Register for Unorthodox Treatments
An elderly physician in Hemel Hempstead faced professional consequences for administering unconventional treatments to two children. The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service deemed her practices a risk to patient safety.
Dr Jean Monro, an 87-year-old physician, has been removed from the UK medical register following a tribunal that concluded her unconventional treatments posed a risk to patient safety. The decision, made by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) in Manchester, marks a significant end to a career that began in 1960.
The tribunal, which ran from May to October 2023, examined two cases involving Dr Monro's treatment of young patients at her family-run Breakspear Medical clinic in Hemel Hempstead. In 2020, she prescribed an unlicensed medication to a 5-year-old girl who had reportedly inhaled mold from a rubber duck in her grandmother's bathroom. The drug, cholestyramine, is not approved for pediatric use in the UK and can potentially lead to malnutrition due to nutrient malabsorption.
In a separate case from 2015, Dr Monro instructed a 6-year-old boy with a lymph node infection to wear an oxygen mask for four hours daily. This treatment was deemed "inadequate" by a previous tribunal in 2022, resulting in a 12-month suspension for the doctor.
The General Medical Council (GMC), represented by barrister Christopher Hamlet, noted Dr Monro's lack of remorse or acknowledgment of fault. In response, Dr Monro submitted a statement asserting she had acted in the best interests of her patients and disagreed with any suggestion of falling short of expected standards.
MPTS chairman Debi Gould ultimately ruled that Dr Monro should be struck off for demonstrating "a reckless disregard for the principles of good medical practice." This decision makes her believed to be the oldest doctor to have her name removed from the UK medical register.
"I have caused no harm to this child. I acted in her best interests at all times and I provided the best advice and guidance to her mother. If you believe that I fell short of the expected standards, I disagree."
The case highlights the importance of adhering to established medical practices and the potential risks of unconventional treatments, especially when dealing with vulnerable patients such as children. It also underscores the role of regulatory bodies like the GMC and MPTS in maintaining professional standards in healthcare.
The NHS, which operates alongside private clinics like Breakspear Medical, became involved when the 5-year-old girl's parents sought a second opinion from a pediatrician, who questioned Dr Monro's treatment approach. This incident led to the report filed with the GMC, initiating the investigation that culminated in Dr Monro's removal from the medical register.
