A DOCTOR who gave a massive dose of a paralysing drug to two terminally-ill babies, hastening their deaths, said he "felt in his heart" they were suffering.

Consultant neonatologist Michael Munro, 41, injected the children with muscle relaxant Pancuronium after they suffered violent body spasms in the moments before their deaths.

He explained how the phenomenon, known as agonal gasping, was "horrendous to witness" for the families of both children.

Dr Munro, of Aberdeen, was working at the city's maternity hospital in 2005 when both babies, known only as X and Y, were admitted.

The General Medical Council's fitness to practise panel, sitting in Manchester, had earlier been told the doctor's decision to administer the drug was contrary to medical guidelines and was "tantamount to euthanasia".

Dr Munro denies an allegation that his fitness to practise is impaired by reason of misconduct.

The hearing was told Y was born two weeks premature on June 20, 2005, while X was born on December 5 the same year, more than three months early.

Both suffered complications during pregnancy with X suffering a serious brain haemorrhage and Y born with pulmonary hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension.

Dr Munro described the final moments in the life of Y.

He told how the decision was taken for treatment to be withdrawn and the infant was given to his parents to nurse. The youngster's breathing faded and both nurse and family believed the child had died.

Dr Munro returned to the baby to certify death and found its heart was beating faintly.

He said: "Baby started agonal gasping. I think this is horrendous to witness. Baby then started to build on this agonal gasping - that is to say it increased in frequency.

"I felt the baby looked distressed because the baby's whole body was being wracked by these movements."

Asked how the parents of Y appeared, Dr Munro replied: "They were distraught.

"If you put yourself in their shoes, they have already said their last goodbyes to their baby, then suddenly there are these massive, racking agonal gasps that appeared to build up - they were utterly, utterly distraught.

"The parents were in tears saying things like I can't take any more'.

"I took the decision then to administer Pancuronium."

He said he chose Pancuronium after reading a recent article in a medical journal.

He said the drug appeared ethical and acceptable to be used in this situation and, following discussion with the family, told a nurse to fetch the muscle relaxant.

He said: "While (the nurse) was outside, I explained to the parents this drug was to be used to ease the suffering but that one of the consequences of its use may be to hasten death.

"They were happy with that."

Questioned about why he failed to record the drug's use in the medical notes, Dr Munro denied he had attempted to hide his actions.

In the case of X, the doctor was again called to certify death and discovered the infant's faint heartbeat. Again, the child began agonal gasping.

Dr Munro said: "I tried to explain this was simply a reflex, although I felt in my heart this baby was distressed."

Following discussion with the child's family, Dr Munro made the decision to administer a dose of Pancuronium and the infant died a short while later.

He again denied his failure to record the use of the drug in notes was an attempt to hide his actions but conceded his note-taking had been inadequate.

Andrew Long, representing the GMC, said earlier neither of the children's parents were unhappy with the doctor's treatment of their babies.

The hearing continues.