By Sohaib Shams
British doctor David De Clive-Lowe, 70, has been erased from the UK medical register after a tribunal ruled his fitness to practise was impaired by serious misconduct and a previous striking-off in Norway.
Norwegian misconduct findings
The Medical Professionals Tribunal Service (MPTS) heard that De Clive-Lowe, who registered in the UK in 1979 and in Norway in 1998, ran a private practice called Leuthenklinikken AS in Norway while also offering alternative therapies such as acupuncture and suction cups. Between 2018 and 2019, the Norwegian medical board found he had conflated his roles as a doctor and alternative therapist, creating a risk that patients received treatment that appeared effective without being so, and imposing needless expense.
Cancer patient case
In 2021, Norwegian authorities received reports concerning a patient with advanced cancer. The patient's father alleged that De Clive-Lowe continued to be referred to as "doctor" and claimed he could cure the cancer with large intravenous doses of vitamin C. The patient paid 1,600 krone (£130) per treatment round and accrued debt, while their health deteriorated rapidly.
Vitamin C and Venofer administration
The Norwegian board found that vitamin C had no scientific basis for treating cancer, mitigating chemotherapy side effects, or strengthening the immune system. More seriously, De Clive-Lowe administered Venofer, a prescription-only iron preparation that can be fatal if used improperly. The board concluded he had breached his duty to inform the patient of the lack of evidence and the dangers of Venofer.
UK tribunal decision
In May 2022, the Norwegian board declared De Clive-Lowe unfit to practise due to significant lack of professional competence and significant breach of duty, barring him from using the title of doctor. He failed to notify the UK General Medical Council as required. The MPTS determined that his misconduct and the Norwegian determination placed the case at the upper end of sanctions, making erasure the only proportionate outcome.
