Ex-Army doctor ‘acted dishonestly’ over death of Iraqi

Dr Derek Keilloh, appearing before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS), denied any cover-up over the death of Baha Mousa and claimed he only spotted dried blood around the nose of the hotel receptionist after he was arrested and beaten by British soldiers in Basra in 2003.

Hooded with a sandbag for nearly 24 hours, Mr Mousa suffered 93 separate injuries including fractured ribs and a broken nose during the final 36 hours of his life in the custody of the 1st Battalion, Queen’s Lancashire Regiment (1 QLR).

Dr Keilloh, he senior medic on duty who treated Mr Mousa, 26, on the night he died, repeatedly denied any knowledge of such injuries. Yesterday, the GP, who now works at Mayford House Surgery in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, was found guilty of a series of failures after the death of Mr Mousa and his subsequent conduct.

The MPTS found he was aware of the injuries to the victim but failed to conduct an adequate examination of the body. And knowing of the man’s condition, he then failed to assess other detainees or protect them from further mistreatment and tell senior officers what was going on.

The MPTS said he engaged in “misleading and dishonest” conduct when, at courts martials and a subsequent public inquiry, he maintained under oath he saw no injuries to Mr Mousa’s body. The tribunal will now retire to decide whether his behaviour amounts to misconduct, and if so, what the penalty should be. The MPTS has the power to suspend or strike off doctors guilty of misconduct.

Dr Keilloh showed no reaction as Dr Brian Alderman, chairman, delivered the panel’s verdict.