A GP has been suspended for four months for a string of failures, including treating his own family members which is prohibited.

Dr Israil Mojahid, of Oaklands Surgery on Canvey, has been suspended from practising for four months after a medical tribunal found he failed to provide a good level of care to a number of patients.

The tribunal also heard that between the years of 2001 and 2017, four of his family members were registered at the surgery and he had requested colleagues provide their treatment.

The report stated: “[Panel expert] Dr Wright opined that doctors need to be entirely objective when patients consult them.

“Doctors may not be fully objective when treating members of their family.”

The tribunal heard the once-common practice had “long-since ceased to be considered acceptable” and that Dr Mojahid’s conduct was “seriously below the standard of a reasonably competent GP”.

It also heard that he had treated his family members without undertaking adequate assessments, examinations or history, and that there was no clear clinical rationale for the medications prescribed.

This included failing to record discussions of the dependence risks on a sleeping medication called zopiclone yet still issuing a repeat prescription.

This led to a second doctor giving the same advice which, the tribunal found, could weaken the patient’s trust in the practice.

The report stated: “It might lead the patient to form an impression that communication within the practice is lacking.

“Such an impression of poor communication could impact adversely on the patient’s confidence in their GPs and the practice at which they are registered.”

In a similar incident, Dr Mojahid also failed to record any discussion of dependence risks with the mother of a 14-year-old who was taking painkillers.

This caused a second doctor’s alarm when she saw diazepam and tramadol had been prescribed with no record of dependence risks.

The tribunal report stated: “Dr Mojahid’s poor record-keeping had the potential to undermine continuity of care.

“What concerned the tribunal was that Dr Mistry was so worried about Dr Mojahid’s prescribing of diazepam and tramadol to a minor, she rang the patient’s mother to discuss the risks.

“It is not common for GPs to phone patients these days and when they do, it is often to impart serious news.

“There was, therefore, the possibility that his mother would be distressed and anxious to receive that call.”