A BURNLEY doctor was "misleading and dishonest" when he failed to refer a patient for prostate cancer checks – then claimed to have been acting on a hospital specialist’s advice.

Dr Zakir Hussain Khan, who works at the Colne Road Surgery, insisted he had been told in a telephone call by a urology registrar not to send the 61-year-old for urgent tests, the Medical Practitioners’ Tribunal Service was told.

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But when Dr Khan rushed to Burnley General Hospital, after hearing about the patient’s diagnosis, in a bid to back up his story, he aroused the suspicions of an experienced nurse on duty there, who alerted senior medics later.

He was also unclear about the name of the specialist concerned and when the conversation was said to have taken place, a hearing was told.

Hospital registrar Khaled Mohammed, identified as the on-call specialist at the time of the supposed phone call, told an MPTS misconduct hearing that he could not recall talking with Dr Khan about the case.

If he had been given background about the patient, which included "grossly elevated" scores in an antigens blood test and complaints of backache, he would have advised an immediate referral for the man, referred to only as Patient A throughout the proceedings.

Dr Vishal Agrawal, panel chairman, said that it was apparent from the evidence, including testimonials from staff at the Colne Road surgery, that Dr Khan had revised his approach to cancer referrals and reflected on his clinical failing, which could be regarded as serious.

But the chairman also ruled that the evidence of deliberate dishonesty, found proven, by falsifying the patient’s medical records to claim he had consulted a registrar, ran contrary to the basic principles of general medicine.

Nicholas Williamson, for Dr Khan, said that any punishment would have a serious impact on not only the GP but his family, colleagues and patients at the practice.

Announcing a six-month suspension period on Dr Khan’s registration, Dr Agrawal said: “The tribunal concluded that your interests are outweighed by the need to maintain public confidence in the profession and declare and uphold proper standards of conduct and behaviour.”

An independent expert called by the General Medical Council, Dr Dennis Cox said: “The overall standard of care offered for Patient A fell seriously below the standard which should be expected of a reasonably competent general practitioner.”

The tribunal heard that Patient A underwent a series of consultations with Dr Khan but was not referred for urgent tests despite demonstrating worrying blood test results and later hospital admissions due to urine retention. He was only diagnosed with prostate cancer after one of his hospital stays.

Following a seven-day hearing in Manchester, at which Dr Khan accepted delaying the referral, misconduct charges alleging he had been misleading and dishonest about his contact with the hospital registrar were also found proved.

Dr Khan has up to 28 days in which to lodge a High Court appeal against the decision and there is a review of his progress scheduled at the end of the six month suspension, if it then follows.