GMC hears complaints about UK fertility specialist.

A well known UK fertility specialist charged patients for things they did not “want, need, or get,” the General Medical Council heard this week. GMC counsel Joanna Glynn told the GMC's fitness to practise panel that Professor Ian Craft, director of the London Fertility Centre, had a “cavalier attitude” to warning patients about certain procedures. “This case is about a financial sharp practice, charging patients for things they did not want, need, or get. It's about poor consenting procedures. It's about giving patients poor information,” she said. The case against Professor Craft stems from complaints by two patients. One, known only as Ms B, first visited the clinic in February 1998 seeking in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment. But Professor Craft told her that she had endometriosis and first needed laparoscopic surgery, the hearing was told. “Professor Craft said it would be a risky procedure and that there were only two doctors in the country—one being himself—who could competently carry it out,” said Ms Glynn. Ms B consented to the private operation, paying a fee of £2375 (€3463; $4124). Later, during a visit to the clinic for an injection, Ms B was told that Professor Craft wished to see her, said Ms Glynn; the three minute interview with Professor Craft, in which Ms B claims nothing of significance was spoken, cost £125. “Ms B felt she had no choice but to pay,” said Ms Glynn. In June 1998 Ms B attended the clinic for egg collection. Shortly before entering the theatre, she was allegedly presented with an additional consent form for intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Only when she came to pay did she realise that the treatment would cost her a further £1200, said Ms Glynn. After Ms B had had two unsuccessful cycles of IVF treatment, the second complainant, Ms K, answered an advertisement from Professor Craft's clinic seeking egg donors. The GMC alleges that Professor Craft failed to inform her of the risks of ovarian stimulation, even after a scan showed that she had polycystic ovary syndrome. In May 2002 Ms K developed ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome after her eggs were collected, said Ms Glynn. Finally, in March 2003, Ms K offered to act as a surrogate mother for Ms B. But, said Ms Glynn, the clinic had incorrectly frozen all four of Ms B's stored embryos on one straw. This practice is contrary to the protocol that the clinic had submitted to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority in its licence application, which set a maximum of three per straw. Ms B “had at that time had a hysterectomy and so completely relied on those embryos,” said Ms Glynn. The surrogacy attempt failed. Professor Craft denies all charges of misconduct. The case is expected to last until 24 March.