The GMC is investigating the complaints

Julia Ward died in April 2000 after telling her doctor she was coughing up blood and had a permanent cough.

Her doctor, George Kissen, of Brookwood Avenue, Sale, Cheshire, is charged with serious professional misconduct.

The counts against him include failure to refer her to a specialist until a month before her death.

'Nothing relating to cancer'

He is also accused of failing to make adequate medical notes, including notes of Mrs Ward's physical deterioration.

Jeremy Roussak, for the GMC, said 64-year-old Mrs Ward's family noticed that she had lost a couple of stones in weight from the summer of 1999 onwards.

Despite repeated visits to the Sevenways surgery in Stretford, Greater Manchester, "nobody at all weighed her", Mr Roussak said.

I went through the symptoms of throat cancer with her, but she did not have any of the ones you would expect. Defence witness, Dr Marilyn Kerr

The committee, sitting in Manchester, heard from defence witness Dr Marilyn Kerr, who was Mrs Ward's doctor up until Dr Kissen took her on as a patient in 1999.

She said that Mrs Ward had complained of a "dry, tickly cough" in October 1998, but she could find nothing abnormal.

When the cough became worse Dr Kerr referred her to an ear, nose and throat specialist in November.

Subsequent ear, nose and throat investigations followed, but nothing relating to cancer could be found, Dr Kerr added.

In December, 1998, Mrs Ward was concerned that she had throat cancer, Dr Kerr said.

She told the committee: "I went through the symptoms of throat cancer with her, but she did not have any of the ones you would expect."

Dr Kerr said she had arranged for Mrs Ward to visit a rapid access clinic and X-rays of her sinuses came back clear.

In March 1999, Mrs Ward was diagnosed with allergic rhinitis and in April she was given a Beconase nasal spray.

"She said the Beconase was starting to help her," Dr Kerr said.