Doctor struck off after cutting into patient
A hospital patient who went in for treatment so that a cyst could be removed, ended up with a testicle being cut off by mistake, a General Medical Council has been told.
The doctor was supposed to perform surgery on the man, which was to cut out the cyst but the patient had his right testicle removed instead.
The professional was a locum surgeon working at Fairfield General Hospital, Bury, Greater Manchester, at the time of the surgery in September 2007.
Doctor cuts deep into patient
The doctor is also facing accusations of misconduct and stealing medication intended for patients.
It is alleged that he is now practising in Jordan and was not present at the hearing.
Sarah Prichard, a counsel for the GMC, said that the mistake during the surgery was made when a nurse, helping the surgeon, turned her back to get a stitch. When she had her back turned the patient’s testicle had been removed.
Doctor is dismissed after removal
Ms Prichard said: "Literally as the nurse turned away to get a transfixion stitch, the incident occurred and the testicle was removed."
Ms Prichard added: "Such was the level of concern they immediately realised it could be a serious medical incident and took steps to complete the relevant documentation."
This procedure illustrates a high level of medical negligence, as the doctor negligently took off a wrong body part. These actions would likely leave the man with not only physical personal injury but also mental.
Doctor took' patients' prescription medicines
Just a few weeks after the initial accusation, it was then alleged that the doctor, who qualified after studying at Jordan University of Science and Technology, stole two boxes of dihydrocodeine from a treatment room on a ward at the same hospital.
An investigation was launched and the doctor was dismissed by his employer, Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which ran the Fairfield General Hospital.
The GMC was told of another incident involving taking patients prescription drugs in August 2006, when he had consulted a colleague and was advised to inject a patient with 10 milligrams (mg) of midazolam, a powerful sedative drug.
He was said to have then given the patient 8mg and injected himself with the other remaining 2mg, the hearing was told.
Patients left in need of their medication
This accusation further highlights the act of medical negligence as it shows the doctor foregoing the needs of his patient and putting his own ahead of theirs.
The patient may have had a significant need for the medicine and so going without it could have had a major affect on their health.
The case against the surgeon is being heard in his absence, as he was notified of the hearing but chose not to "engage" with the GMC or appoint lawyers to represent him.
Changes to use of overseas medical staff
The case involving the foreign professional could act as a point of reference and relates to changes that are being considered, after a recent report was published.
The report by the Health Select Committee has warned that immediate changes to the use of overseas doctors in Britain need to be made. This report follows the death of a 70-year-old man who was given 10 times the recommended dosage of diamorphine by a German locum doctor working in the UK.
Under European law, the GMC is not allowed to test language or medical capabilities of doctors within the EU, but the doctor in this case had already been rejected by West Yorkshire NHS because he could not speak English well enough.
Changes stemming from EU law
Daniel Lee, a medical negligence specialist at a no win no fee solicitors firm, believes that more meticulous testing of overseas doctors would increase patient safety.
Mr Lee said: "This tragic case highlights the need for thorough checks on EU doctors wishing to work in the UK. Reports suggest if the GMC had been able to check the language skills and clinical competence of the locum involved in this particular case, there could have been a different outcome."
He concluded by saying: "It is vitally important that patients and doctors can communicate effectively and that all overseas GPs have an in-depth knowledge of medical practices in the UK."
Updated on 27/04/2010