General Medical Council refuse to review decision to ban much-loved North Yorkshire family doctor from profession

Former Northallerton GP Derek Keilloh was hauled before the body's Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service after being referred by Phil Shiner who claimed he was 'unfit to practice'.

Mr Shiner and his firm Public Interest Lawyers (PIL), who have brought two thirds (2,470) of all claims to the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (Ihat) - which investigates abuse of Iraqi civilians by British troops in Iraq - reported Mr Keilloh to the GMC over his treatment of Iraqi detainee Baha Mousa while a British Army medic in 2003. After a hearing the GP was struck off.

Last week Mr Shiner was himself struck off after a string of misconduct charges against him, including five of dishonesty, were found proven following a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal hearing. There have been calls for him to face criminal prosecution.

Last night the GMC told The Northern Echo it didn’t believe the fact Mr Shiner was now discredited had any bearing on its own decision – dashing campaigners' hopes of a swift review.

It said: “Dr Keilloh was erased from the medical register by a fitness to practise panel of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service that considered a substantial body of witness evidence, including the testimony of several medical experts.

“The GMC therefore has no legal power to restore Dr Keilloh’s name to the register, nor do we believe that recent events call into question the correctness of the panel’s decision.

"If Dr Keilloh feels that he has grounds to challenge that decision, he will need to apply to the courts for an appropriate order.”

Campaign group Justice for Dr Derek Keilloh insists the decision to strike off Mr Shiner calls into question some of the evidence submitted to the GMC.

They say that as well as reporting Mr Keilloh to the GMC, Mr Shiner also submitted evidence to support his allegations.

Judith Nicholls, from North Yorkshire, who is leading the campaign, said: “Now it has been proved that Shiner had coerced and manipulated Iraqi witnesses......we will push for a review to look at the credibility of PIL's involvement in the Baha Mousa case – this seriously raises the question of the validity of all the work PIL has done."

Mrs Nicholls said the group will continue to fight to clear Mr Keilloh's name and that he is considering what his approach might be early next year when he is able to re-apply for a licence to practice.

Jeremy Wright QC, the Attorney General, has requested Ihat review all ongoing investigations that rely on Shiner and PIL.

However, a parliamentary inquiry is expected to conclude that the Iraqi investigation team is unfit for purpose and should be scrapped. MPs will also say the Ministry of Defence is responsible for creating a system that allowed Mr Shiner to bring criminal cases against former soldiers on an "industrial scale", according to a report in The Sunday Times.

It is reported to have cost £60m to date and the report is expected to call for Ihat, made up of mainly civilian investigators, to be replaced by a team from the military police.

Mr Keilloh was struck off in 2012 for his conduct as a newly-qualified doctor when he tried to save 26-year-old Iraqi Baha Mousa, who was allegedly beaten by British troops. He tried but failed to resuscitate him.The doctor claimed he did not see any injuries other than dried blood around his nose, but the Iraqi had suffered 93 injuries.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service panel concluded Dr Keilloh was more aware of Mr Mousa’s injuries than he revealed and should have reported it.

Many of Dr Keilloh's patients and colleagues at Mayfield House Surgery in Northallerton, where he worked as a GP and at the town's Friarage Hospital provided testimonials to the tribunal, describing him as “empathetic” and “open, honest and excellent” doctor.

The subsequent campaign to clear his name saw a 3,500-signature petition presented to the House of Commons by Richmond MP Rishi Sunak last year.