Hospital drama: One surgeon received a warning for throwing a scalpel across an operating theatre (File photo) Some of Britain’s worst doctors have been allowed to carry on practising despite making fatal medical errors and engaging in criminal behaviour, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. In spite of such failings as overlooking cancer symptoms, botching operations and kerb-crawling, they have been effectively let off with a slap on the wrist. In total, 147 doctors were given formal warnings by the General Medical Council (GMC) in 2013, which is charged with upholding professional standards. Cases included: . In each case, the GMC chose to issue a warning rather than impose a tougher penalty. Last year, 55 other doctors were struck off – 1.6 per cent of the 3,348 formally investigated. A further 86 were suspended, out of the total of 233,000 doctors who are licensed to practise. The identities of the doctors warned last year can be made public thanks to a Freedom of Information request by this newspaper. Warnings are published on the GMC register, which lists doctors by name and registration number, but using this to find out who has been warned and when would take a very long time. Last night, campaigners accused the GMC of ‘going soft’. Katherine Murphy, the chief executive of the Patients Association, said: ‘The GMC is there to protect patients. It must never compromise their safety by failing to deal with serious breaches of professional duty and trust in an appropriate manner.’ One of those who received a warning for missing a cancer case was Stockport gastroenterologist Navneet Ahluwalia, who was asked to examine a female patient with ‘significant abdominal symptoms’. The GMC stated: ‘Despite test results that indicated the need for further investigation, Dr Ahluwalia wrote to the patient’s GP stating “we are not dealing with cancer” and that the results were ‘‘normal’’. This was incorrect.’ The patient was eventually diagnosed with bowel cancer ‘after a significant delay which could have affected her prognosis’. The GMC did not say whether the patient lived or died. Bolton GP Dr Anton Kiss was warned for indecently exposing himself to two women at a Christmas party and smoking cannabis. Dermatologist Dr Hari Narayana received a warning after trying to pick up a prostitute in the street. And surgeon Munir Abdullah Ali was warned after throwing a scalpel in an operating theatre at Royal Oldham Hospital in Greater Manchester. Dr Stephen Grant failed to refer a patient with an unexpected trunk pain . GMC chief executive Niall Dickson denied a warning was a ‘let-off’ for a doctor. He said: ‘We take very seriously our duty to hold doctors to account if a patient in their care is harmed, or other serious concerns are raised about them. These cases are often complex, involving a range of issues. ‘We investigate thoroughly before coming to a decision. Warnings sit on the doctor’s record for five years and are publicly visible on our website.’
Doctors have missed cancer symptoms, botched operations and kerb crawled .
Last year, 55 doctors were struck off – 1.6% of 3,348 investigated .
At least five in which doctors missed the symptoms of cancer – sometimes with fatal consequences; .
A surgeon who threw a scalpel across an operating theatre during an operation; .
A GP who indecently exposed himself at a Christmas party; and another caught soliciting for prostitutes.
Hospital drama: One surgeon received a warning for throwing a scalpel across an operating theatre (File photo) Some of Britain’s worst doctors have been allowed to carry on practising despite making fatal medical errors and engaging in criminal behaviour, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. In spite of such failings as overlooking cancer symptoms, botching operations and kerb-crawling, they have been effectively let off with a slap on the wrist. In total, 147 doctors were given formal warnings by the General Medical Council (GMC) in 2013, which is charged with upholding professional standards. Cases included: . In each case, the GMC chose to issue a warning rather than impose a tougher penalty. Last year, 55 other doctors were struck off – 1.6 per cent of the 3,348 formally investigated. A further 86 were suspended, out of the total of 233,000 doctors who are licensed to practise. The identities of the doctors warned last year can be made public thanks to a Freedom of Information request by this newspaper. Warnings are published on the GMC register, which lists doctors by name and registration number, but using this to find out who has been warned and when would take a very long time. Last night, campaigners accused the GMC of ‘going soft’. Katherine Murphy, the chief executive of the Patients Association, said: ‘The GMC is there to protect patients. It must never compromise their safety by failing to deal with serious breaches of professional duty and trust in an appropriate manner.’ One of those who received a warning for missing a cancer case was Stockport gastroenterologist Navneet Ahluwalia, who was asked to examine a female patient with ‘significant abdominal symptoms’. The GMC stated: ‘Despite test results that indicated the need for further investigation, Dr Ahluwalia wrote to the patient’s GP stating “we are not dealing with cancer” and that the results were ‘‘normal’’. This was incorrect.’ The patient was eventually diagnosed with bowel cancer ‘after a significant delay which could have affected her prognosis’. The GMC did not say whether the patient lived or died. Bolton GP Dr Anton Kiss was warned for indecently exposing himself to two women at a Christmas party and smoking cannabis. Dermatologist Dr Hari Narayana received a warning after trying to pick up a prostitute in the street. And surgeon Munir Abdullah Ali was warned after throwing a scalpel in an operating theatre at Royal Oldham Hospital in Greater Manchester. Dr Stephen Grant failed to refer a patient with an unexpected trunk pain . GMC chief executive Niall Dickson denied a warning was a ‘let-off’ for a doctor. He said: ‘We take very seriously our duty to hold doctors to account if a patient in their care is harmed, or other serious concerns are raised about them. These cases are often complex, involving a range of issues. ‘We investigate thoroughly before coming to a decision. Warnings sit on the doctor’s record for five years and are publicly visible on our website.’
throwing a scalpel across an operating theatre cancer symptoms, botching operations and rather than impose a tougher penalty. Last year, 55 other doctors were struck off – 1.6 per cent of the 3,348 formally investigated. A further 86 women at a Christmas party and smoking cannabis. after throwing a scalpel in an operating theatre