I think there are many other aspects of medical work where we all face every day the potential of being arrested for manslaughter

Dr John Gordon, Carlisle GP

He said he hoped this would cut out much of the distress and agony caused to innocent doctors.

But this will come too late for Carlisle GP Dr John Gordon, arrested on suspicion of the manslaughter of five drug-addict patients, and Dr Peter Lindsay, from Pudsey, Leeds, arrested following the deaths of seven of his patients.

Both had been using diamorphine - the clinical term for heroin.

Cleared

Police investigations found that neither GP had done anything wrong, but both were suspended from practice and subjected to intense media scrutiny.

An emotional Dr Lindsay, who was cleared earlier this month, told the BBC his life had been made hell since his arrest in January this year.

He said the local papers had emblazoned his arrest across the front page and that his family had been thrust into the media spotlight.

Now he is waiting to find out when he can return to work, but says he must turn his anger about the incident into a positive force to help the people of Pudsey where he has worked for the last 20 years.

"If I can turn the anger into hope for the sake of the patients I think that is more meaningful than simply being angry and suing people."

Dr Gordon is back practising in the Warwick Road surgery, but admits the whole incident left his life in tatters.

"I felt my life had come to an end at that point in time."

During the three months of the inquiry Dr Gordon agreed not to work, but says he still feels the case was brought simply as a backlash to the Shipman case.

He said his arrest has made him and other doctors very wary about practising medicine and worried about possible arrests.

He said: "I think there has been a sea change in the attitudes towards doctors.

"I think there are many other aspects of medical work where we all face every day the potential of being arrested for manslaughter.

"I find it deeply worrying that when we are trying to do our best for a patient that we can face this prospect and it certainly affects the way I handle my work now."

Suspended

Dr Gerard Panting, director of policy at the doctors' defence body the Medical Protection Society, said they were deeply concerned about the time doctors could spend out of practice while allegations are pursued.

"If a problem is raised it may take some time to sort out and the doctors tends to be suspended from post.

"Often it takes many weeks or sometimes many months while those problems are resolved and in that time some of the skills are eroded.

"Often people lose confidence in the doctor and it can be difficult to get the doctor back to work."

Health Minister John Denham said the problems faced by doctors had been noted and that this was why the National Clinical Assessment Authority had been set up to ensure that cases are dealt with as speedily as possible and the innocent doctors returned to work.

He admitted that in the past Health Authorities might not have handled cases like these in the best way, but said they had been in a difficult position and lacked the necessary tools.

"They either do nothing and then are pilloried if something goes wrong or they have to use some very blunt instruments which can be very hurtful and even damaging to the doctors concerned."