A doctor sold slimming pills to women in an illicit clinic in a Sussex car park, the General Medical Council has heard.
Dr Herbert Gladstone Kinnell, 59, dished out the drugs on three occasions to women without establishing their medical histories in a way that was "irresponsible, inappropriate and potentially dangerous", the professional conduct committee heard in London yesterday.
Dr Kinnell is charged with handing out Tenuate Dospan, Tenuate Strong, Ionamin and Diethylpropion Hydrochloride at the Ark pub in Thetford, Norfolk, in May and June 1998.
The women were not asked their state of health, no blood pressure or physical examination was taken and no prescription note was made, it was alleged.
The doctor allegedly told one woman that losing one and a half stones in two weeks was "normal" and that drinking alcohol "keeps your weight down".
Dr Kinnell is also accused of giving diet pills to a patient at a "slimming clinic" at a community centre at Greenham, Berkshire, in 1997 and operating a similar event in the car park of Dormans Community Centre at Gossops Green, Crawley, in October 1999.
The doctor, of Cross Street, Reading, Berkshire, denies serious professional misconduct.
Dr Kinnell was caught by Norfolk Police officers posing as people wanting to lose weight, the committee was told.
The hearing was adjourned until today.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article