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at the (GMC) on Monday.

Dr Robert Trossel has already been suspended, so cannot practise as a doctor in the UK. He could be "struck off" if the GMC panel finds against him.

He faces allegations, read out at the hearing, of making false claims about stem cell treatments to nine patients suffering from multiple sclerosis, all of whom will give evidence over the coming weeks.

The GMC said on Monday that its witnesses will describe how Dr Trossel's treatments, costing thousands of pounds, left them with only short-lived improvement or no benefit whatsoever.

The GMC alleges that Dr Trossel's actions were not justifiable on the basis of available scientific or clinical medical evidence, inappropriate, not in the best interests of the patients, exploitative of vulnerable patients, false, misleading, dishonest, and an abuse of his position as a doctor.

FBI hunt

Dr Trossel admitted on Monday that in February of last year he was sentenced to five months imprisonment (which was suspended for three years), and fined 4,000 euros, after falling foul of Belgian law over a stem cell clinic there.

Newsnight uncovered Dr Trossel's link with this clinic as part of a series of investigations into his stem cell "treatments".

The GMC panel heard that a number of the patients reached Dr Trossel after contacting a company called Advanced Cell Therapeutics (ACT).

Newsnight established in that ACT was run by a couple called Stephen van Rooyen and Laura Brown, who are still wanted by the FBI for stem cell fraud under an extradition arrangement with South Africa.

Desperate

The GMC's witnesses, all of whom have agreed to be named, include Deborah Sandford, who suffers from multiple sclerosis (MS).

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The couple had heard about the "treatment" in the New Pathways magazine for MS sufferers, and were desperate for help.

They saw the Newsnight item in August 2006, but decided to keep their scheduled September appointment.

They taped their conversation with Dr Trossel, and at that appointment he gave them a "certificate of analysis" for the stem cells he had intended to use in Mrs Sandford's treatment.

This certificate stated that the cells were not intended for use in humans.

Dr Trossel admits this, but denies that this stem cell treatment was unjustifiable on the basis of available scientific or clinical medical evidence, inappropriate, not in the best interests of the patient or exploitative of a vulnerable patient.

Checks and balances

The Newsnight team had already filmed a vial of stem cells at the PMC clinic with a label indicating that they came from a company called AllCells in the US, and established that they were intended only for research purposes.

They had not passed the usual checks and balances required before being injected into people.

Monday's hearing was told that another patient, Tracy Wagstaff, also saw the Newsnight item in August 2006 and contacted Dr Trossel's son who assured them that he was no longer involved with ACT, and that he was taking legal action against them.

The GMC said Ms Wagstaff had been left feeling "cheated and terribly upset".

In a slightly surreal twist, the hearing was also told that Dr Trossel was cautioned by police for making off without paying a parking bill at Stansted airport of £472.50 - a charge he admitted.

The hearing is expected to last until early March, with the defence beginning their case in early February.

I asked Dr Trossel for an interview at the hearing today, and he said he had received my request.

The head of his legal team also told me that they would "be in touch".