GMC lifts transplant ban on 'kidneys for sale' doctor

ONE OF the three doctors disciplined in the 'kidneys for sale' case was yesterday granted permission to practise privately.

Michael Bewick, 56, a kidney transplant surgeon, of Sydenham, south London, was barred from undertaking any private kidney transplants three years ago after a 35-day hearing of the General Medical Council's professional conduct committee - by far the longest in its history.

He had been found guilty of serious professional misconduct over the removal of kidneys from four Turkish donors at the Wellington Humana hospital in St John's Wood, north London, between June and November 1988.

But the committee took only a few minutes to decide to remove the restrictions yesterday. Sir Robert Kilpatrick, its chairman, said the committee had decided it could safely bring the case to a conclusion. Mr Bewick can resume private practice from 7 May.