Ex-NMT Medical PI faces suspended med license

Controversial NMT Medical sponsored Migraine Intervention with STARflex Technology study co-primary investigator Dr. Andrew Dowson has had his medical license suspended in the U.K. over misconduct charges relating to the trial, according to TCTMD.

Dowson was found guilty on 7 counts of misconduct by the U.K.’s General Medical Council Fitness to Practice Panel earlier this year. He appealed the decision, but it was upheld last month, according to TCTMD, leaving him with a 4-month practice suspension.

The MIST trial looked to investigate the possible benefits for patent foramen ovale closure to treat migraines. Co-principal investigator cardiologist Dr. Peter Wilmhurst accused Dowson, and the trial sponsor, of misconduct.

At the TCT 2007 conference, Dowson misrepresented himself as a neurologist as he presented data from the MIST I and MIST III trials, reporting a closure rate of 94%, according to TCTMD. Co-investigator Wilmshurst said he had ‘run afoul’ of the study sponsor and found much lower rates of device success.

Wilmshurst was later removed as a primary investigator from the study.

The ruling judge in the case, Justice Edis, upheld panel conclusions citing misconduct on Dowson’s part, including a failure to disclose to the MIST research ethics committee “extensive work” for which he charged trial sponsor NMT Medical over $300 an hour (U.K. £200), according to TCTMD.

Dr. Dowson has lost all but 1 of his appeals over misconduct and dishonesty relating to the case.

The suspension went into effect last week, according to the U.K.’s General Medical Council.

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