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Dukan diet creator disciplined over Mediator prescription Dukan diet creator disciplined over Mediator prescription
(35 minutes later)
Pierre Dukan, the French doctor and international diet guru, has been censured by France's national medical body for failing to observe medical ethics in prescribing to a patient who wanted to lose weight the amphetamine-derivative drug Mediator, which is now believed to have killed hundreds. Pierre Dukan, the French doctor and international diet guru, has been censured by France's national medical body for failing to observe medical ethics in prescribing the amphetamine-derivative drug Mediator, which is now believed to have killed hundreds of people, to a patient who wanted to lose weight.
The ruling is the latest controversy to hit the former GP who created the high-protein, low-fat, low-carbohydrate Dukan diet. Since his first weight-loss book was published in France in 2000, 11m copies of his books have been sold worldwide. The Dukan group behind diet-coach websites and a range of products registered a turnover of €38m in 2012. The ruling is the latest controversy to hit the former GP who created the high-protein, low-fat, low-carbohydrate Dukan diet. Since his first weight-loss book was published in France in 2000, 11m copies of his books have been sold worldwide. The Dukan group behind the diet-coach websites and a range of products registered a turnover of €38m (£33m) in 2012.
Dukan, 72, who has retired as a doctor, was given a week-long ban from practising medicine and ordered to pay €6,000 in legal costs to the complainant. The medical body found that he prescribed the drug outside its principle recommended use for a significant period and without sufficient tests or follow-up. Dukan, 72, who has retired as a doctor, was given a week's ban from practising medicine and ordered to pay €6,000 in legal costs to the complainant. The medical body found that he prescribed the drug outside its principal recommended use for a significant period and without sufficient tests or follow-up.
It said he lied about the timeframe of the prescription and the medical history of his patient. Dukan's lawyer criticised the ruling and said he would appeal. Dukan has also lodged a separate legal complaint over the case. It said he lied about the time frame of the prescription and the patient's medical history. Dukan's lawyer criticised the ruling and said he would appeal. Dukan has also lodged a separate legal complaint over the case.
The drug Mediator is at the centre of one of France's worst ever pharmaceutical scandals. The amphetamine derivative was marketed to overweight diabetics but was also prescribed to healthy women as an appetite suppressant when they wanted to lose a few pounds. The drug Mediator is at the centre of one of France's worst-ever pharmaceutical scandals. The amphetamine derivative was marketed to overweight diabetics but was also prescribed to healthy women as an appetite suppressant when they wanted to lose a few pounds. According to the French health ministry, it has killed at least 500 people by damaging their heart valves. Other studies put the death toll nearer to 2,000, and thousands more have suffered cardiovascular complications that have limited their daily lives.
According to the French health ministry, it has killed at least 500 people through heart valve damage. Other studies put the death toll nearer to 2,000, and thousands more complain of cardiovascular complications that have limited their daily lives. Up to five million people were given the drug between 1976 and November 2009, when it was withdrawn in France, years after being pulled in Spain and Italy. It was never authorised in the UK or US.
As many as five million people were given the drug between 1976 and November 2009, when it was withdrawn in France years after being pulled in Spain and Italy. It was never authorised in the UK or US. Dukan's patient, named only as Marie-Claude in the French media, consulted him over her desire to lose weight in 1971. Years later she discovered she was suffering from heart-valve damage that medical experts said was likely to be directly related to taking Mediator.
Dukan's patient, named only as Marie-Claude in the French media, consulted him over her desire to lose weight in 1971. Years later she discovered she was suffering from heart valve damage that medical experts said was likely to be directly related to taking Mediator. The medical body has already sanctioned more than 100 doctors over prescriptions of Mediator. The medical body has already sanctioned more than 100 doctors for prescribing Mediator.
Dukan excluded himself from the French National Order of Doctors of his own accord in 2012. The order had lodged two official complaints against him accusing him of not exercising enough care in his proposals, of engaging in personal promotion and of practising medicine "like a business", in contravention of its code. Dukan withdrew from the National Order of Doctors, the French medical association, of his own accord in 2012. The order had lodged two official complaints against him, accusing him of not exercising enough care in his proposals, of engaging in personal promotion and of practising medicine "like a business", in contravention of its code.
The order was concerned about Dukan's proposals in a book that baccalaureate pupils whose weight remained within "normal" limits or who lost weight over the course should be given extra marks in their exams. The association was concerned about Dukan's proposals in a book that baccalaureate pupils whose weight remained within "normal" limits or who lost weight over the course should be given extra marks in their exams.
In 2011 Dukan lost a libel action against a rival doctor, Jean-Michel Cohen, who promoted a calorie-counting and exercise diet. Cohen said only the "slimming industry, doctors, pill salesmen, publishers and newspapers" had really benefited from the Dukan diet, which he described as a "bandwagon of this fantasy". The court made no judgment on the accusations on scientific or health grounds.In 2011 Dukan lost a libel action against a rival doctor, Jean-Michel Cohen, who promoted a calorie-counting and exercise diet. Cohen said only the "slimming industry, doctors, pill salesmen, publishers and newspapers" had really benefited from the Dukan diet, which he described as a "bandwagon of this fantasy". The court made no judgment on the accusations on scientific or health grounds.
Dukan said in a Guardian interview last year: "I have been working on this for 42 years and millions of people have done this diet. I've never heard of anybody's health suffering." Dukan told the Guardian in an interview last year: "I have been working on this for 42 years and millions of people have done this diet. I've never heard of anybody's health suffering."
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