Doctor cleared over baby deaths

Consultant neonatolgist Michael Munro, 41, was cleared of accusations his decision to give 23 times the standard amount of a muscle relaxant to two terminally ill infants was inappropriate.

The act, described by the General Medical Council lawyer as "tantamount to euthanasia" was deemed to be consistent with conduct expected of a doctor. A GMC disciplinary panel said the doctor had intended to relieve the children's suffering rather than hasten their deaths.

However, Dr Munro, of Aberdeen, admitted the drug had in fact hastened their deaths by stopping their breathing.

He told on Monday how the children, identified only as Babies X and Y, had suffered violent spasms during the last moments of their lives. The condition, known as agonal gasping, was "horrendous to witness" and Dr Munro said he "felt in his heart" the babies were suffering. After speaking to both parents and with their explicit consent, he administered 2,000mg of paralysing agent pancuronium allowing them to die peacefully.

The GMC Fitness to Practise Panel, sitting in Manchester, said Dr Munro believed the babies were in distress and there was a "lack of clear, specific professional guidance" on how this should be handled.

On Monday he gave a harrowing account of how the youngsters' bodies had been racked by a series of spasms and how their parents had been visibly upset. The doctor, who worked at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, denies a charge of impairment by reason of misconduct.

The panel did criticise Dr Munro for misleading a medical investigation into his conduct which followed the discovery he had given pancuronium to Baby X. Asked by Dr Keith Fraser if he had ever used the drug in a similar circumstance, Dr Munro said he had not. The inquiry later revealed he had administered the powerful muscle relaxant six months early to Baby Y. The panel said this was misleading and below conduct expected of a doctor but did not find it dishonest. He was also criticised for failing to make adequate medical notes.

The doctor made no reaction as the panel chairwoman read out the findings and did not comment on the ruling.

The panel must still determine whether Dr Munro's misleading of the inquiry into his use of pancuronium and inadequate note-taking constitute impairment and whether sanctions are appropriate. The hearing was adjourned until Wednesday.