A Glasgow GP accused of prescribing tablets to an OAP to help her kill herself has come under fire from a GMC expert.

Dr Leonard Peter told a General Medical Council hearing that the standard of care provided by Dr Iain Kerr fell far below that expected of a general practitioner.

Dr Peter was called to give evidence by the GMC's counsel on the third day of the hearing in Manchester, which is considering Dr Kerr's fitness to practise medicine.

The panel has already been told Dr Kerr spoke in a staff appraisal about giving the sleeping tablets called sodium amytal to the elderly woman, known only as Patient A, so she could end her life.

They have also heard the woman later went on to overdose using different drugs prescribed by Dr Kerr.

In addition, the GP faces allegations of inappropriate conduct after prescribing sodium amytal to five other patients.

Dr Peter said yesterday: "It's really unacceptable for a doctor to prescribe a powerful, potentially lethal drug to a vulnerable elderly person if that doctor is aware they wish to end their life."

An overdose of sodium amytal could cause irreparable brain damage, not death, according to Dr Peter.

"There's no guarantee that what you'll get is death - what you might get is terrible disability," he said.

Dr Peter also criticised Dr Kerr for prescribing Patient A with temazepam just days after she tried to kill herself using this medicine.

Patient A, who had osteoporosis and chronic lower back pain, feared becoming a burden on her family.

She killed herself using a combination of temazepam and two other drugs in December 2005.

The hearing was told that Dr Kerr wished to state "categorically" that it was not his intention to help Patient A end her life by prescribing her temazepam three days after she attempted suicide.

Dr Kerr, 61, has a practice at the Williamwood Medical Centre, in Seres Road, Glasgow.

Rhonda Waters, his practice nurse, said in a written statement: "She (Patient A) told me she had to see Dr Kerr so he could check her pills so he could see they were in date for when she wanted to die.

"I was really concerned when she told me this."

The hearing continues today when Patient A's son is expected to give evidence by videolink.