FAMILY doctor Geoffrey Fairhurst who used elderly patients as guinea pigs in drugs tests has been struck off the medical register after being found guilty of serious professional misconduct.

The senior practitioner, who was alleged to have used some patients for drugs trials without their knowledge or consent, was found guilty by a committee of the General Medical Council of misconduct involving four patients using potentially dangerous drugs.

Dr Fairhurst, who had practices at Lancaster House, North Road, St Helens and Junction Lane, Sutton, and who is also a member of the local ethics committee, is said to have received £15,000 to provide guinea pigs for drug trials.

The president of the General Medical Council, Sir Donald Irvine, said the doctor had betrayed the trust of his patients and undermined public confidence in the medical world.

He said: "The facts against you demonstrate you have repeatedly behaved dishonestly. It has not only been dishonourable in itself, but it has also placed the welfare of patients at risk."

He continued: "Trust lies at the heart of the practice of medicine. Patients must be able to trust their doctors with their lives and well-being. That trust must not be abused."

Doctor Fairhurst, 57, from Newton Road in Lowton was alleged to have forged signatures on pensioner patients' consent forms, supposedly allowing him to test unlicensed drugs on them. He is also said to have involved a research assistant - with whom he is said to have had an affair - to change dates on medical records.

Sir Donald Irvine, added: "The committee has judged you guilty of serious professional misconduct and has directed the registrar to erase your name from the register."

Dr Fairhurst now has 28 days to appeal against the decision.

Following the General Medical Council's decision to strike Dr Fairhurst off the register, a spokesman for St Helens & Knowsley Health stressed: "Our main concern is that of the patients of Dr Fairhurst following the decision by the General Medical Council on Friday, March 22.

"We would assure them that for both the Lancaster House Medical Centre and at Junction Lane, Sutton, services will continue temporarily to be provided by locum doctors."

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