Beatle's doctor fined for talking of final days

A New York doctor who treated Beatle George Harrison during his final days has been fined €4,300 for talking about it.

Dr Gil Lederman, the director of radiation oncology at Staten Island University Hospital, was censured, reprimanded and ordered to pay the fine for a violation of patient confidentiality when Harrison died two years ago.

An investigation was ordered after the star’s estate complained.

Although he stayed clear of talking about Harrison’s specific medical condition, the state found he engaged in misconduct by “revealing personally identifiable information obtained in a professional capacity without the prior consent of the patient.”

Suffering from cancer, a frail Harrison had checked into Staten Island University Hospital in October 2001, just weeks before his death.

Dr Lederman performed an innovative treatment known as fractionated sterotactic radiosurgery, which attacks tumours with high doses of pinpoint radiation.

After Harrison died on November 29, 2001, Dr Lederman was quoted in US TV and newspaper interviews as saying the legendary rock star did not fear death and was writing and recording songs until the end.

He told how Harrison played for him and gave his 13-year-old son a guitar lesson.

He described the singer-songwriter as “quiet and dignified” and said “he believed death was a part of life. He was not fearful of death.”