A DOCTOR accused of failing to spot Baby P's broken back has had her application to be removed from the medical register rejected.

Dr Sabah Al-Zayyat, who is facing disciplinary action over her conduct, had applied for "voluntary erasure" from the medical register to avoid the need for a full misconduct hearing.

The General Medical Council ruled that the "serious" allegations against the locum paediatrician should be heard in public.

Dr Al-Zayyat saw 17-month-old Peter Connelly at St Ann's Hospital in Haringey days before his death in 2007.

She is accused of failing to carry out an "adequate examination", investigate his injuries or admit him to hospital.

A post-mortem examination found that at the time of his examination he had sustained serious injuries, including a broken back and fractured ribs, before he was examined by Dr Al-Zayyat.

She was sacked Great Ormond Street hospital terminated after details of Peter's case came to light.

Dr Al-Zayyat was originally due to face GMC disciplinary action in February.

The earlier session was adjourned after the panel heard she was "suicidal" and had left the country.

Mary O'Rourke QC, for Dr Al-Zayyat, told the GMC panel she would go to the High Court to seek a judicial review of its decision not to allow voluntary erasure.