TWO retired doctors have failed to overturn a decision to pursue disciplinary action over their handling of an investigation into disgraced surgeon Richard Neale.

Professor Robert Haward and Dr William Green will now have to face a Fitness to Practise Panel (FPP) of the General Medical Council.

The doctors had applied to the High Court in London for permission to mount a judicial review of the decision to refer them to an FPP.

This week Mr Justice Burton ruled that the decision was not unlawful.

The doctors are facing allegations relating to their handling of the investigation into the background of former consultant gynaecologist, Mr Neale.

Prof Haward was regional medical officer of the Yorkshire Regional Health Authority during part of Mr Neale's period of employment at the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

In 1988, he led an investigation into Mr Neale's background, assisted by Dr Green, when the Yorkshire authority became aware of disciplinary proceedings taken against Mr Neale in Canada following the death of a patient in Ontario in 1981.

Prof Haward and Dr Green have since retired. Both deny any wrongdoing.

Mr Neale, 60, who lives near Boroughbridge, is on police bail as part of an investigation focused on the deaths of three former patients, as well as allegations of assault and deception. He was struck off the medical register in July 2000 after botching a string of operations, lying to patients and altering records