The pharmacist who dispensed diamorphine to serial killer GP Harold Shipman failed to notice that he was requesting drugs for dead patients, the statutory committee of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society heard today.

Entries in the pharmacy's controlled drugs register (CDR) showed that Ghislaine Brant, manager of the pharmacy used by Shipman, dispensed diamorphine to Shipman for prescriptions he had made out for patients who were already dead.

Opening the case for the society, Alison Foster told the six-strong committee that there had been "serious lapses" when she failed to spot unusual prescription patterns, including his request for excessive and potentially lethal doses of diamorphine on 13 or 14 occasions between February 22 and August 27 1993.

The amount prescribed is a "most unusual amount of diamorphine", the society's solicitor alleged, adding that that level would be lethal for someone unused to the drug.

Ms Foster said: "In this context, the appearance of the relevant page of the CDR is extraordinary. It is the society's case that Mrs Brant failed in her duty in not recognising that the repeated doses of 30mg of diamorphine gave rise to queries about its use that Mrs Brant should have raised with the doctor."

Ms Foster suggested that Mrs Brant's failure could be attributed in part to her relationship with Shipman, a factor that Dame Janet Smith pointed to in the Shipman inquiry's fourth report. Dame Janet said Mrs Brant had been "charmed" by Shipman and "lost her professional objectivity".

Mrs Brant faces seven charges at the two-day hearing, including failing to exercise professional judgement and/or the objectivity of a reasonably careful and competent pharmacist.

She still works at the pharmacy and has the support of its owner, Co-operative Healthcare, but could be struck off the register if found guilty of professional misconduct.

Shipman was convicted of killing 15 patients, but is suspected of killing up to 250. He hanged himself at Wakefield prison in January last year.