A GP was last night left waiting to discover whether she would be found guilty of serious professional misconduct over the treatment of two patients.

Jane Gustafsson, 51, faced the General Medical Council's (GMC) Professional Conduct Committee over allegations relating to two men treated as emergency patients at her surgery in Seaham, County Durham.

The committee heard on Monday that retired miner William Brettwood, 77, died three days after mistakenly being given a huge dose of morphine painkillers meant for another patient at the Seaton View Nursing Home, in April 1997.

During an emergency phone call from a nurse, Dr Gustafsson advised that Mr Brettwood, who was suffering chronic breathing problems, should be monitored every 30 minutes.

Dr Gustafsson admits failing to take immediate and appropriate steps to ensure Mr Brettwood's well-being.

The committee, sitting in London, also heard of the case involving Edward Hood, 50, an insulin-dependent diabetic treated as an emergency patient at the surgery.

Richard Tyrrel, for the GMC, told the hearing that Dr Gustafsson dealt with him in a "rather hurried manner", despite being "all the more duty bound to provide a level of care" for him as an emergency patient.

Dr Gustafsson admitted failing to take immediate and appropriate steps to ensure Mr Brettwood's well-being, but she denied inadequate care of Mr Hood. She denied serious professional misconduct.

The committee returned from its discussions yesterday to say it found the charges which Dr Gustafsson had denied were proved.

The hearing will resume tomorrow, when the committee will discuss whether the charges amount to serious professional misconduct.