Doctor accused of 'cover-up' in girl's death fails to halt medical misconduct tribunal

A doctor accused of covering up a little girl's death has failed to halt a medical misconduct tribunal.

Dr Heather Steen’s application to be voluntarily removed from the medical register was rejected on Wednesday.

She’s accused of covering up the circumstances surrounding the death of nine-year-old Claire Roberts. She died from hyponatremia in 1996.

Dr Steen’s previous application to be voluntarily removed from the medical register on health grounds was rejected. It is alleged the medic concealed the true circumstances of Claire's death. Previous hearings have heard claims from the General Medical Council (GMC) that Dr Steen didn’t give a proper explanation of the probable cause when informing Claire's parents of her death in October 1996 . She has admitted that her communications with Claire’s parents were inappropriate as she failed to disclose that it was necessary to refer their daughter's death to the coroner because it was sudden and unexplained. She denied she was part of any cover up.

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