A FAMILY doctor’s nine-year battle to clear his name has come to an end, after he announced “with a heavy heart” he would not appeal against the decision to strike him off.

North Yorkshire GP Derek Keilloh told hundreds of well-wishers and former patients who campaigned to try and reverse the decision to ban him from practising medicine of his decision on Friday.

Mr Keilloh had been found guilty of misleading and dishonest conduct following the death of Iraqi prisoner Baha Mousa in Basra in 2003 and in December the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) removed him from the Medical Register.

Dr Keilloh, now 38, was a newly-qualified doctor with the Queen’s Lancashire Regiment when he tried to save 26-year-old Mr Mousa, who had been beaten by British troops. He was unable to revive him.

The doctor claimed he did not see any injuries other than dried blood around his nose, but the Iraqi had suffered 93 injuries, including fractured ribs and a broken nose.

The MPTS panel concluded he had been more aware of Baha Mousa’s injuries than he revealed in his statements.

The MPTS panel received three large ringbinders of testimonial letters from patients and professionals such as doctors, nurses and care home managers who spoke of his care of patients in Northallerton.