Doctor tells court of Dubai licence cancellation

MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE: Dr Mitra Nikkhah denies the gross negligence charge.

A doctor whose elderly patient died from a reaction to penicillin in the UK has been working as a GP in Dubai since October 2007, a court has heard.

Dr Mitra Nikkhah, 41, who is on trial at Plymouth Crown Court accused of the manslaughter by gross negligence of 73-year-old David Townsend, told the court that after she discussed the criminal charge with her employers in Dubai, her contract was terminated.

She said she found another job as a GP in Dubai, but learned on Sunday morning that the authorities in the emirate had cancelled her registration and licence to practise.

On Monday, she told a jury she was not told her patient was allergic to the antibiotic she prescribed, the Plymouth Evening Herald reported.

Townsend died at his home in Plymouth in May 2006 after being prescribed penicillin by Nikkhah following a consultation with her at the city's St Budeaux Health Centre, where she worked as a locum.

Townsend went into anaphylactic shock after taking the penicillin and died, the jury heard.

Nikkhah, who denies the manslaughter charge, told the court that during the 13-minute consultation with Mr Townsend and his 74-year-old wife Joan she sometimes had to repeat questions as the couple could not hear very well.

She examined Townsend and found he was suffering from a throat infection, bronchitis and a lower back abscess.

The "antibiotic of choice" to treat Townsend was penicillin she told the jury.

Nikkhah told the jury she was not specifically told that Townsend could not have penicillin.

She checked computer records which showed that in 2004 Townsend had experienced an adverse reaction to another type of drug.

The records also showed that a month before, Townsend had been prescribed penicillin said Nikkhah, adding "that was enough for me".

Defence counsel Timothy Langdale QC asked: "When you indicated you were going to prescribe penicillin did you get any reaction from Mr and Mrs Townsend," to which the defendant replied "no".

The case continues.

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