Daniel Pelka death: Doctor 'failed to act adequately'

The GP of starved schoolboy Daniel Pelka "failed to act adequately" when concerns were reported to him about the four-year-old, a disciplinary panel has found.

Daniel, four, was starved and beaten for months before he died in March 2012 at his Coventry home.

His mother Magdelena Luczak and her partner Mariusz Krezolek were jailed for a minimum of 30 years in 2013.

Dr Mohammad Pathan had denied he was aware of a number of the concerns.

However, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) hearing, in Manchester, found that on the balance of probabilities Dr Pathan knew about concerns reported to him by Daniel's school.

The panel heard the school's deputy head took the "unusual step" of calling Dr Pathan in January 2012 because she was so concerned about Daniel.

Gillian Mulhall said she told the GP Daniel had lost weight following the Christmas break and described a "noticeable change" in his appearance.

Ms Mulhall said she was concerned Daniel was "beginning to look unwell", was "eating excessively but losing weight" and that his skin was "grey and translucent".

Dr Pathan denied "absolutely" that Ms Mulhall had discussed Daniel's weight loss and pallor but the panel found against him.

The panel also found that Dr Pathan had failed to "act adequately" and "attach sufficient weight to the information" following the telephone call.

"[We] had serious reservations about your evidence," the panel said.

"At times... you appeared evasive."

However, other allegations against Dr Pathan - that he failed to suspect Daniel was a victim of child maltreatment and therefore at risk - were not proved.

The hearing, which was brought by the General Medical Council (GMC), is due to decide whether its findings mean Dr Pathan's fitness to practise is impaired.

A serious case review in September 2013 found a number of chances were missed to save Daniel.