GP accused of misleading court over MMR danger

A GP misled a court by claiming vaccines including MMR jab were too dangerous to be given to children, the General Medical Council heard yesterday.

Dr Jayne Donegan, a GP in Herne Hill, south London, "convinced herself" of the dangers of vaccines to such an extent that she was prepared to give false evidence, it was alleged.

At the end of a case in which the mothers of two children opposed a bid by the fathers to have them vaccinated, the judge described the evidence she gave as "junk science".

Dr Donegan had submitted two reports as an expert witness and gave evidence backing the mothers' opposition to the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and other childhood immunisations. These included whooping cough, polio and tetanus.

But she is alleged to have quoted selectively from medical reports and left out those parts which supported the use of the vaccine.

Dr Donegan, who works in Herne Hill, south London, appeared yesterday at the start of a two-week hearing before the GMC's Fitness to Practise Panel in Manchester.

She is accused of acting unprofessionally and also of bringing the profession into disrepute.

Tom Kark, for the GMC, told the hearing the GP failed in her duty to present a balanced report.

"Dr Donegan was giving a misleading impression in court," he added.

He said the GP had allowed her own two daughters to be given the vaccines before she later became convinced they were risky and unnecessary and could do more harm than good.

It was in 2002 that she appeared as an expert witness at Winchester Crown Court in the case involving two girls, aged four and ten.

Another consultant was "scathing" about her report and Mr Justice Sumner ruled in the fathers' favour.The mothers then went to the Court of Appeal where their case was dismissed again after Lord Justice Sedley accused Dr Donegan of presenting "junk science".

It was following his complaint that the GMC began proceedings against the GP.

The hearing continues.