Doctor who put children 'at risk' struck off

Dr Jean Monro, who founded Breakspear Medical, says she retired in 2021 from practicing medicine and is now an environmental naturopath

A doctor has been struck off after risking the safety of two children with "unconventional and inconsistent" treatments.

Dr Jean Monro, who runs a private clinic in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, retired from practicing medicine in 2021 and describes herself as an "environmental naturopath".

A medical tribunal heard how she suggested a six-year-old boy wear an oxygen mask for up to four hours a day and recommended the prescription of an unlicensed drug for a five-year-old girl.

Dr Monro, who did not attend the hearing, previously told the General Medical Council she felt the case regarding the girl was "absurd" and said she acted in the child's best interests.

Her treatment of the children was described as "flawed", "unconventional" and "reckless".

The tribunal found Dr Munro, who qualified in 1960, failed in "history taking, examination, diagnosis, investigation, record keeping, prescribing and consent" in relation to the five-year-old girl, who was suspected of inhaling mould.

Dr Monro, in a response to the tribunal in April, disputed the girl's parents' record of events and claimed to have made recommendations which the parents did not use, including multiple diagnostic tests.

A sole urine test had been used to diagnose a high level of toxin, which an NHS paediatrician later questioned.

The tribunal found that the urine test had "no benefit with regard to Patient A's clinical care".

An expert witness concluded Dr Monro's report on the test gave an "inaccurate reflection of the report".

'Experimental and unproven'

Dr Monro had previously been suspended in 2023 for misconduct in the case of the young boy.

During his treatment, she supported the boy wearing an oxygen mask for several hours a day, which the tribunal said was "experimental in nature and unproven benefit".

The tribunal previously heard wearing the oxygen for four hours a day "could cause Patient B physical and/or psychological harm".

Neither patient was harmed as a result of the care, but their safety had been put at risk, the tribunal concluded.

The tribunal found there had been "overlapping and multiple breaches" of good medical practice "in relation to vulnerable patients".

It added: "Moreover, this tribunal has no evidence either that Dr Monro recognises this, or that she has developed insight into the seriousness of her misconduct or the potential risk of harm to patients."