GP acted “irresponsibly” when treating 18 patients with painkillers

Howard Martin, a retired GP who was acquitted of murdering three of his patients in the north of England in 2005, is facing charges at the General Medical Council of “irresponsibly” giving potentially fatal doses of painkilling drugs to 18 terminally ill patients.

The hearing at Manchester, which is expected to last until 18 June, is going ahead in the absence of Dr Martin, 75, and without legal representation for him.

A GMC spokeswoman said the Medical Defence Union had told the council that he …