A FORMER GP accused of malpractice on 11 patients denied trying to deceive a court in a bid to undermine an opponent, a medical panel heard yesterday.

Dr Dev Dutt, 66, is accused of lying to Huddersfield County Court during a legal battle in 2004 against Fixby couple David and Julie Ruddiman.

The former GP, who ran Fartown Medical Centre in Spaines Road, denied malpractice between 1985 and 2005 at a General Medical Council fitness to practice panel in Manchester.

The doctor pursued several court cases against the Ruddimans, all of which he lost.

Dr Dutt (right) said he had not received the Ruddimans' defence by the due date. But the GMC stated this was a ploy to invalidate the couple’s representations.

The former GP insisted he had not received the notice personally before the deadline. But he admitted it could have arrived at his surgery.

Dr Dutt dismissed claims of pretending to send a fax to the court from his surgery. When challenged by GMC counsel Sarah Pritchard that the fax had a Manchester phone number Dr Dutt said the machine had been faulty.

The doctor also denied accusations of fabricating excuses for missing hearing days at the County Court in October, 2004.

Dr Dutt added that breaching confidential records of former patient Mr Ruddiman had been a moral duty in a court case against the Ruddimans in June, 2004.

Ms Pritchard said: “There was no patient consent to use Mr Ruddiman’s records.’’

Dr Dutt said: “I didn’t need it . . . when you have to balance your ethical duty against civil duties, family duties and moral duties you sometimes have to over-ride it.’’

The doctor also denied failing to monitor the condition of an alcoholic patient, two patients with hyperthyroidism and a sedative addict. He denied making repeat prescriptions without review for several patients.

The GMC suspended Dr Dutt’s right to practise in October, 2005. The case continues.