Controversial allergy doctor admits faults in her treatment of a patient with lead poisoning

A doctor specialising in environmental medicine whose work has attracted controversy for decades is facing charges at the General Medical Council of giving a potentially harmful treatment based on inadequate evidence.

Jean Monro is accused of using an inappropriate test to diagnose lead poisoning, failing to inform a patient’s GP about possible complications of chelation therapy and going ahead with the treatment after learning that the GP had reported her to the regulator.

Dr Monro is medical director of the private Breakspear Hospital in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, which is described on the allergy information website foodsmatter.com as working “mainly with patients who have …