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| Doctor 'prescribed an exorcism' | Doctor 'prescribed an exorcism' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A family planning doctor prescribed an exorcism to a woman during a routine appointment, a medical tribunal heard. | A family planning doctor prescribed an exorcism to a woman during a routine appointment, a medical tribunal heard. |
| Dr Joyce Pratt, 44, allegedly told the patient she was possessed by an evil spirit and suggested she visit a priest who could take the problem away. | Dr Joyce Pratt, 44, allegedly told the patient she was possessed by an evil spirit and suggested she visit a priest who could take the problem away. |
| The General Medical Council heard the consultation took place at Westside Contraceptive Services in London. | The General Medical Council heard the consultation took place at Westside Contraceptive Services in London. |
| Dr Pratt is accused of acting in a manner liable to bring the medical profession into disrepute. | Dr Pratt is accused of acting in a manner liable to bring the medical profession into disrepute. |
| Battered bible | Battered bible |
| The tribunal heard that the patient, referred to as Mrs K, had attended the clinic in Westminster for a routine contraception injection. | The tribunal heard that the patient, referred to as Mrs K, had attended the clinic in Westminster for a routine contraception injection. |
| During the appointment she mentioned she was experiencing pain and bleeding and the doctor told her she had "something moving inside her". | During the appointment she mentioned she was experiencing pain and bleeding and the doctor told her she had "something moving inside her". |
| She told Mrs K she knew everything about her family and the patient believed her and became extremely frightened Stephen Brassington, GMC counsel | She told Mrs K she knew everything about her family and the patient believed her and became extremely frightened Stephen Brassington, GMC counsel |
| The doctor allegedly made Mrs K - a practising Muslim - drink what she claimed was Christian holy water from a bottle in the consultation room. | The doctor allegedly made Mrs K - a practising Muslim - drink what she claimed was Christian holy water from a bottle in the consultation room. |
| Dr Pratt then read to her from a battered bible, said prayers over her stomach and gave her wooden crosses and stones to ward off evil, the panel heard. | |
| The doctor later bragged to a nurse at the clinic that she was a "visionary" and told her manager she had a special gift that had been with her since childhood. | The doctor later bragged to a nurse at the clinic that she was a "visionary" and told her manager she had a special gift that had been with her since childhood. |
| GMC counsel, Stephen Brassington, said Mrs K was too "anxious and distressed" to give evidence to the Fitness to Practise Panel sitting in Manchester. | GMC counsel, Stephen Brassington, said Mrs K was too "anxious and distressed" to give evidence to the Fitness to Practise Panel sitting in Manchester. |
| Advice to disappear | Advice to disappear |
| He said the doctor had left Mrs K "extremely frightened" after telling the woman her mother was a witch who was trying to kill her. | He said the doctor had left Mrs K "extremely frightened" after telling the woman her mother was a witch who was trying to kill her. |
| "After the consultation, she (Dr Pratt) told her not to go home but to get on a train and disappear," Mr Brassington said. | "After the consultation, she (Dr Pratt) told her not to go home but to get on a train and disappear," Mr Brassington said. |
| "She told Mrs K she knew everything about her family and the patient believed her and became extremely frightened - a feeling that persisted for many months." | "She told Mrs K she knew everything about her family and the patient believed her and became extremely frightened - a feeling that persisted for many months." |
| Dr Pratt is also alleged to have failed to co-operate with inquiries into her behaviour by her manager and the primary care trust. | Dr Pratt is also alleged to have failed to co-operate with inquiries into her behaviour by her manager and the primary care trust. |
| The doctor chose not to attend the hearing or provide herself with any legal representation. | The doctor chose not to attend the hearing or provide herself with any legal representation. |
| If found guilty of misconduct she may be struck off the medical register. | If found guilty of misconduct she may be struck off the medical register. |