He was also notable as a medical expert witness for the defence in the trial of suspected serial killer John Bodkin Adams.
[1] His father, Nathaniel Harman, trained as a Baptist minister but having gained a double first at Cambridge instead became an ophthalmic consultant.
He gave evidence that though the deceased was being prescribed high amounts of heroin and morphine by her general practitioner, it was entirely justified under the circumstances and that it would have done more harm to the patient if the treatment was discontinued.
The prosecutor Attorney-General, Sir Reginald Manningham-Buller, entered a nolle prosequi which the presiding judge, Patrick Devlin, later termed "an abuse of process".
[4] Adams was subsequently successfully prosecuted on 13 lesser charges of prescription fraud, lying on cremation forms, obstructing a police search and failing to keep a dangerous drugs register.
[1] Harriet became Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and served in the Cabinet under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and is Mother of the House of Commons.