A HUDDERSFIELD doctor has been suspended by health officials worried about his behaviour.
Dr Dev Dutt, 63 - who has about 2,000 patients on his books at Fartown - was suspended with immediate effect on Friday.
The decision to stop him practising was taken by officials from Huddersfield Central Primary Care Trust - alerted when concerns about his behaviour were aired to them.
Dr Dutt, aged 63, had taken legal action through the county courts against several people - accusing most of them of harassment - but was roundly condemned by a judge who threw out a case against a Fixby couple last November.
The judge asked for another judge to take out a restraining order against Dr Dutt to stop any further action against the people he was already pursuing through the courts. This was done.
But Dr Dutt said he was appealing against the decision in the Fixby case.
He said: "This judgement is a denial of basic human rights. I am appealing against this decision in the High Court."
He said he knew nothing about being suspended and he claimed the Examiner had no right to reveal that his work at the GP practice was under the supervision of a psychiatrist.
In a letter to the newspaper today he said: "The release of any material pertaining to be my medical history without my written consent is illegal.
"I have been in touch with my medical defence organisation and lawyers with the matters stated by your reporter and they have assured me of their full support in this matter."
Dr Dutt said he had spent two weeks in India from January 5 helping victims of the tsunami disaster. He worked in a small hospital in the district of Nagapattinam.
He added: "I am a highly respected GP in Huddersfield."
Trust chief executive Kevin Holder and another trust director took the decision to suspend Dr Dutt after a formal oral hearing held late on Friday.
After the hearing, Mr Holder said: "I can confirm that following a formal hearing on February 4, Huddersfield GP Dr Dev Dutt has been suspended from duty pending a further inquiry.
"Locum and emergency cover has been arranged for patients at his practice.
"Any patients with queries or concerns should contact the Patients' Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on Huddersfield 466172."
Dr Dutt, who runs a single-handed practice at the Fartown Health Centre, has been the subject of a number of complaints about his behaviour.
He has been involved in a number of legal actions and has been the subject of measures by the General Medical Council.
A surgery he had arranged for Saturday was cancelled and patients who had appointments were offered help through the Local Care Direct service which is used by Huddersfield GPs.
A locum was in place today to ensure surgeries continue in Fartown.
Health trust officials will spend several weeks examining all the evidence against Dr Dutt before determining if he should be allowed to resume his career.
They could then lift the suspension or could ask for further action from the General Medical Council.
