A FORMER Fartown GP accused of malpractice has denied tricking an elderly, poor-sighted woman into signing a letter calling for his reinstatement.
Dr Dev Dutt, 66, gave evidence before the General Medical Council’s fitness to practise panel at his hearing in Manchester yesterday.
Dr Dutt, former GP of Fartown Heath Centre, is alleged to have tricked the 84-year-old widow into signing the letter addressed to Huddersfield Central Primary Care Trust chief Kevin Holder.
The widow, who cannot be named, said in a statement that Dr Dutt called unannounced at her house in the summer of 2006 and asked her to sign a letter confirming that she had been a longstanding patient of his.
She said he later returned with a prepared letter, which Dr Dutt read to her.
She said she later found out that the letter contained untruths that she did not remember the GP reading.
Dr Dutt told the panel that the allegations were untrue.
He said he did come across the pensioner by chance, who was a patient of his since 1976.
He claimed she was having difficulty crossing the road, and that he did his “civic duty” to help her.
Sarah Pritchard, representing the GMC, asked: “You hadn’t sought her out as somebody to write a complaint on your behalf?” to which Dr Dutt replied: “Certainly not”.
He is also accused of not properly monitoring the condition of a diabetic who joined his practice in July 2000.
