With the Government announcing an independent inquiry into the self-regulation of doctors following the Harold Shipman case, the North Yorkshire son of one of his alleged victims tells David Wiles of his own struggle to open up the profession to public scrutiny.

The Harold Shipman case has reopened old wounds for Richard Couzens.

He believes his mother was killed by the doctor - her name is included on a police list of further probable victims - and he has long attributed the death of his wife to medical negligence.

His faith in the medical profession, already sorely tested, has now been shattered.

Mr Couzens, of Chelmsford Road, Harrogate, believes independent regulation of doctors could not only prevent future and very public horrors like the Shipman case, but also private tragedies like his wife's death.

The deaths of the two people closest to him have led him to view the General Medical Council (GMC), the medical profession's regulatory body, as little more than a screen behind which negligent or sub-standard doctors can hide.

The 62-year-old former schoolteacher is now determined to bring about more openness so that patients can make informed decisions before putting their lives in a GP's hands.

His wife, Lesley, died of cancer six years ago. He believes the doctor who initially saw her when she noticed a growth on her back failed to spot the disease. She died three years later.

"Even though I went to the General Medical Council with my concerns and complaints there was no censure for him," he says.

"The GMC took him at his word and did nothing about him."

An internal inquiry by the GMC found that the doctor had "not acted unreasonably" and no further action was taken.

While Mr Couzens does not rank his wife's doctor alongside mass murderer Dr Shipman, he feels tragedies will continue to happen until the system is opened up.

He says: "I thought my wife's case would get a fair hearing at the GMC and that some action would be taken against the doctor. But absolutely nothing happened and it made me realise that it is a body which looks after its members' interests and not one where patients can seek redress."

Harrogate MP Phil Willis says he has every sympathy with Mr Couzens. He fully supports the independent public inquiry announced yesterday by Health Secretary Alan Milburn and says it will look at the issues raised by Mr Couzens. He agrees there is a question mark over the GMC's ability to regulate itself.

But Mr Willis feels that opening doctors' criminal and professional records to public scrutiny is not practical as complaints about GPs often prove to be unfounded.

"Most are blameless, but it is how we deal with the small number who abuse their position that must be addressed," he says.

The GMC says it welcomes the announcement of an independent inquiry, but denies shielding bad doctors from the public. A spokeswoman says it is "willing to learn the lessons that need to be learned" following the conviction of Britain's most prolific killer.

Two prison officers at the jail where the serial killer is being held have been sent home because they are the sons of one of his suspected victims, it has emerged. The pair, who work at Manchester Prison, where Shipman was currently being assessed, are on compassionate leave until he leaves the jail, said the Prison Service.

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