A surgeon has denied it was controversial to perform a hysterectomy on an immature teenager without her consent.

Consultant gynaecologist Michael Pembrey, 56, said the 18-year-old, who had a mental age of six, was not capable of giving her permission.

He said he believed the surgery was in the girl's best interests.

Mr Pembrey had the teenager sign a consent form for the operation despite her not understanding the consequences, the General Medical Council was told.

He said: "I wanted her signature so she felt part of the decision-making process. It was not necessary - I just wanted her to feel this was something we were all doing together."

The patient is among nine women who, it is alleged, had needless, unwanted or botched surgery at the hands of Mr Pembrey over the last decade at the Conquest Hospital in Hastings.

The girl, identified only as Miss G from Eastbourne, suffered with a severe learning disorder and had an IQ of around 30.

She was referred to Mr Pembrey in March 1999 after her mother became concerned because she was receiving love letters from boys. The mother was considering getting her daughter sterilised.

Mr Pembrey told the hearing: "She was certainly not able to consent for herself or understand or appreciate what such operations would mean to her. She needed someone to make the decision for her."

During the 25-minute consultation the doctor claimed Miss G's mother suggested a full hysterectomy because her daughter's life was made 'intolerable' during her periods.

He told the committee she said the youngster suffered 'sheer terror'.

Mr Pembrey said: "When I asked what Miss G thought she dropped her hands into her lap and grimaced.

"I concluded she was very much of the view that a hysterectomy was what she wanted and I agreed the procedure was in her best interests."

Father-of-four Mr Pembrey said he talked the girl's mother through the alternatives, which they agreed were not appropriate.

He said she signed the consent form before he asked Miss G to do the same.

Mr Pembrey told the hearing: "She gave a response showing delight that she was ridding her periods forever. I remember her chuckling at this prospect.

"We explained that she would never have babies and she said she did not want babies.

"We agreed there was no way she could cope with having children or delivering a baby - it would be a terrifying experience for her.

"I did not feel it was controversial because I had the support of her mother, who was totally behind me."

It is alleged Mr Pembrey adopted an irresponsible and inappropriate approach by failing to analyse whether his patient had the capacity to consent to medical treatment and without attempting alternative methods.

He also failed to recognise the controversial nature of the treatment, the committee heard.

On the day of the operation, junior surgeon Jolyon Ford raised his concerns with Mr Pembrey over the ethics of the procedure. Mr Pembrey dismissed them.

Dr Ford also observed his boss give a 'humiliating demonstration to a group of student doctors by mocking the girl, saying, 'Mummy, mummy, mummy - I am bleeding, what can I do?'

But Mr Pembrey denied the claims and said he was imitating the 'sheer unpleasantness' the girl was suffering during her periods.

He was suspended by the hospital's medical director the following month after he failed to gain consent for Miss G's operation through the High Court.

Mr Pembrey added: "I did not feel it was appropriate at all to seek the view of the courts."

The doctor did not return to work and subsequently at least eight other women came forward to complain about Mr Pembrey's treatment, going back to 1990.

Mr Pembrey of Saxonwood Road, Battle, denies serious professional misconduct. The hearing continues.