TWO Halton Hospital doctors accused of serious professional misconduct following the death of a young diabetic woman are to face a General Medical Council inquiry.

The family of Sarah Jane McNicholas, 20, misdiagnosed by three other GPs, has just won a High Court battle to have the events surrounding her death investigated, after a preliminary GMC hearing in 2004 was this week ruled 'unlawful'.

"My sister deserves justice," said Mike McNicholas, 46, of Runcorn. "We are not vindictive people out on a crusade but we are absolutely determined to do all in our power to ensure this doesn't happen again.

"Sarah was a bright, very bubbly, energetic young lady, a loving, caring individual. It was unbelievable to watch such a beautiful life extinguished in such a horrific way, all of it completely needless."

Sarah, of Arden, Widnes, died at Halton Hospital in July 1997, after falling into a diabetic coma.

An ombudsman's inquiry, in 2000, blamed a 'catalogue of medical blunders' for her death.

A 17-day jury inquest, the following year, returned a verdict of death by natural causes, aggravated by neglect.

Sarah, wrongly diagnosed by Halton Hospital consultant Dr Ali Khaleeli, as suffering from a very rare form of diabetes that did not require insulin in 1996, fell ill while on holiday in North Wales.

Yet none of the three GPs she consulted tested her blood or urine, a simple test experts agree could have saved her life. One GP diagnosed an underactive thyroid and two said she had gastritis.

A day later, she was admitted to Halton Hospital, suffering from ketoacidosis, a dangerous condition relating to insulin-dependent diabetics. She was taken into intensive care where she died a week later.

Her family called for Dr Gerry Murphy, medical director of North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust, and consultant endocrinologist Dr Ali Khaleeli to face charges of serious professional misconduct.

A preliminary GMC hearing in 2004, decided there was no case to answer.

Her family mounted a judicial review, claiming the committee had exceeded its jurisdiction by clearing the doctors when all it should have decided was whether there was an arguable case.

This week, High Court judges granted their appeal and the GMC agreed to send the case back to its preliminary investigation committee in July - nine years after Sarah died.

"All we want is a fair, open and transparent hearing into these allegations," said Michael. "The GMC grossly exceeded its authority.

"My parents get repeatedly upset at failures of the system. They believe that just as the doctors let Sarah down, the GMC has let Sarah down.

"My sister's memory deserves a proper public hearing."

A spokesman for Halton Hospital, said: "The High Court ruling is a matter for the GMC to consider. The trust will, however, co-operate fully if required to do so."