A FAMILY doctor from Blackheath who offered to arrange an illegal kidney transplant has been struck off by the General Medical Council (GMC).

Dr Bhagat Makkar, aged 62, of The Priory, Priory Park, was accused of being involved in the trade of human organs after an undercover investigation by the Sunday Times.

Journalist Paul Samrai introduced himself as Jaspal Singh, the son of a man who desperately needed a kidney transplant, and secretly recorded the conversation at the Lewisham Way surgery.

The three-day disciplinary hearing listened to a transcription of the conversation, in which it is alleged he bragged his company, Health International Services Ltd, could deal in transplants and other private surgery.

Dr Makkar then offered to arrange it adding: "no problem".

But when questioned by his solicitor Charles Foster he said he had never been involved in kidney transplants and was not involved in the company.

Dr Makkar said: "My understanding is he wanted an operation done in India but he kept going on about donor, donor, donor and I got drawn into the conversation.

"When I said I will fix it, I meant I will enquire with my friend from India and provide them with the information."

The GP, who only had two days of his career left when he met the reporter, said he wanted to clear his name.

Bradley Martin, counsel for the GMC, said the doctor indicated he could arrange the operation in the UK or overseas for cash, using a live donor.

This broke GMC guidelines on transplants which state it is illegal to remove organs when the recipient is not genetically related to the donor, he added.

Dr Makkar who denied serious professional misconduct, was told his behaviour was "unprofessional, irresponsible and not in the best interest of his patient".

Committee chairman Professor Peter Richards, who said it was a tragic end to a long and honourable career, said: "It was necessary, in the public interest and for the protection of patients, to make it clear a doctor must be trustworthy and practice within the law."