A consultant described as “the father of urological oncology” in the UK has been found guilty of misconduct over his role as principal investigator in a clinical trial at University College London Hospital, in which a 27 year old patient died.

But Stephen Harland, the hospital, and research bodies had all learnt lessons that would make trials for cancer patients safer, and the consultant’s fitness to practise was not impaired, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) panel held.

Gary Foster, a graphic designer who had been told he had a 60% chance of survival, was taking part in a multicentre trial called TE23 funded by the Medical Research …