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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

To feel sorry for this doctor?

695 replies

HarryStylesismycrack · 25/01/2018 16:05

I am not in any way downplaying the death of that beautiful little boy and it is clearly acknowledged there were some failures by the doctor in question however AIBU to feel as though this intervention by the GMC into the independent decision making by the MPTS is concerning? It appears to me that the MPTS took into account many things, not just the outcome (which I completely acknowledge is heartbreaking), the fact that this doctor was working the job of several other medical staff in an unfamiliar environment with significant IT issues with no senior input. It feels like this doctor has been made a bit of a scapegoat for huge systemic failures.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/jack-adcock-latest-downs-syndrome-death-doctor-hadiza-babwa-garba-struck-off-general-medical-council-a8177721.html

A different link to a blog by other medical practitioners 54000doctors.org/blogs/an-account-by-concerned-uk-paediatric-consultants-of-the-tragic-events-surrounding-the-gmc-action-against-dr-bawa-garba.html

OP posts:
Bluelady · 14/08/2018 13:50

I tuned him out. What an arse.

sashh · 14/08/2018 14:01

Namechang

Ask them to put a different station on.

One of the hospital I go to has this because without the noise you can hear what is being said in consulting rooms.

LouiseCollins28 · 14/08/2018 14:01

Surprised to find myself against the prevailing opinion here. So "system failures" can continue to be used to absolve highly trained professionals of accountability for when things go wrong. That's just wrong, in my opinion. I'm also more than dismayed that the BBC, in the form of Panorama, allowed Dr BG an unchallenged platform to justify herself, shameful.

MingeUterusMingeMingeYoni · 14/08/2018 14:19

Oh well, might go some way towards balancing out all the unchallenged coverage the parents have had.

Also, on what planet has she been absolved of accountability? She has a conviction for gross negligence manslaughter. That's basically the opposite of being absolved.

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 14/08/2018 14:29

The right decision. She had been scapegoated for massive NHS systemic failings.

Bluelady · 14/08/2018 14:41

That phone in really didn't go the way they expected. They knocked it on the head after about ten minutes. Maybe you should research what actually happened on that shift, Louise, that conviction is ridiculous.

whywhywhywhywhyyy · 14/08/2018 14:49

So "system failures" can continue to be used to absolve highly trained professionals of accountability for when things go wrong.

The issue with this one is that everything has been piled on her rather than her being blamed for what she actually did.

Her consultant decided to take on non NHS work when he was supposed to be on site supervising her because she's a trainee. He ignored a lactate of 7 despite writing it down in his notes despite knowing that was deadly. He did not act when he learned she was doing the job of multiple doctors. But the man isn't in the reaches of the GMC any longer so the trust has left the reg out to dry on all of those points.

laptopdisaster · 14/08/2018 15:10

The next step is to appeal the manslaughter conviction.

LouiseCollins28 · 14/08/2018 15:15

and she's now allowed to work again following a 1 year suspension as I understand it? Like I said, not accountable, and nor by the sounds of it is the consultant who was nominally in charge. I wasn't aware of this aspect of the circumstances. She was as I understood it the senior doctor on the ward that day, the "junior doctor" tag meaning merely "not a consultant", do I have that right?

MingeUterusMingeMingeYoni · 14/08/2018 15:25

What you appear to mean is that you would like more scapegoating sanction against her. Because it's a fact that she hasn't been absolved. Like it or not.

No argument about the consultant though.

Topseyt · 14/08/2018 15:26

I am glad that the right decision has been reached. It is clear that this poor doctor had been scapegoated badly and made to carry the can for all of the systemic failures. She and others around her were spread impossibly thinly and couldn't possibly practice safely.

I do have sympathy for the parents of the child who died. However, I don't think their vitriol towards the doctor (who has never tried to cover up the fact that she missed sepsis) is not doing them or their cause any favours now. It is just coming across as a witch hunt.

Have the parents ever mentioned whether or not they personally administered the GP prescribed drug (forgotten the name of it for now) to their son? It had been against the advice of the scapegoated doctor, and hadn't been on his hospital drugs chart. Or have they (the parents) conveniently kept quiet on that?

I want to have every sympathy with them. I really do. But it has waned somewhat because of their behaviour, and particularly during the Panorama program last night.

Topseyt · 14/08/2018 15:28

I do think their vitriol is not doing their cause any favours.

Topseyt · 14/08/2018 15:29

Louise, as the scapegoat she was more than held accountable.

LouiseCollins28 · 14/08/2018 15:33

I don't want people scapegoated. How exactly has she been held to account if she will be allowed to return to practicing medicine?

Topseyt · 14/08/2018 15:37

You clearly haven't read much about the case.

youarenotkiddingme · 14/08/2018 15:38

She has had years of her life turned upside down and her name dragged through the mud - alongside a conviction for not realising a child "sat up in bed drinking a beaker of juice" who had been admitted with D and V so right to assume improved had sepsis when a) medically there was no presentation and b) the consultant who had the blood results indicating it didn't inform her.

She didn't actively cause this child's death by failing to do her job properly.

LouiseCollins28 · 14/08/2018 15:42

OK @Topseyt, advise me what I should be reading about it please. the last thing I read after watching Panorama was an article on Pulse.

sashh · 14/08/2018 15:46

and she's now allowed to work again following a 1 year suspension as I understand it? Like I said, not accountable, and nor by the sounds of it is the consultant who was nominally in charge. I wasn't aware of this aspect of the circumstances. She was as I understood it the senior doctor on the ward that day, the "junior doctor" tag meaning merely "not a consultant", do I have that right

She's not been working for years.

Yes she was the most senior Dr on duty, because the most senior Dr who was supposed to be there, wasn't there, and she was doing his job and that of 2 others plus her own.

Do you think the mother o be arrested as well? The mother gave the drug that caused the arrest.

Have the parents ever mentioned whether or not they personally administered the GP prescribed drug

It was the mother.

Topseyt · 14/08/2018 16:00

OK, so it was the mother who gave the drug that caused the arrest. This doctor had advised them not to give it for the time being, but the parents seem the sort who won't take no for an answer.

Louise, you could start by reading the thread and all linked articles. The doctor has not worked for several years because of this. Not just a year. She was also covering for three other doctors, including the consultant who was supposed to be supervising her (who has since left the country). She had no support.

ClaryFray · 14/08/2018 16:05

I think they were scape goats for the massive failings on a higher level. Junior Dr's need quidence for a start, there was done. It's more of a get on with it and when there's a problem we'll throw you under the bus. I feel sorry for them.

And the little boy the hospital and policy's failed him.

FoxFoxSierra · 14/08/2018 16:17

I was so happy when I heard she had won her appeal, that poor woman has been put through hell! The parent are going through the most awful grief and anger is a big part of that but it has been totally misplaced

HobNobcentral · 14/08/2018 16:33

I’m an ex-HCPand have discussed this with friends still working.
Like a PP one of them said if she hade been male and white it never would have gone this far. The old boys club (OBC) would have stepped in.

I’ve seen the OBC in action, SHO stealing drugs. Hushed up moved to different hospital. Other one was found viewing images of child sexual abuse in his hospital office, again hushed up.

Black woman subjected to ridiculous stress, no back up etc. Throw the book at her…

endofthelinefinally · 14/08/2018 16:35

I am a bereaved mother.
I tried everything to get help for my son.
I even had to physically fight my way past a receptionist who tried to block me from getting into a GP consulting room. I had a booked appointment, just couldn't get my son to attend. He was too ill. I wasn't doing anything wrong. She just thought I shouldn't be allowed to speak to the GP.
I could blame the GP who really should have helped to section my son.
I could blame the crisis team who refused to help because it was the middle of the night.
I could blame the community counsellor who was too busy to offer an appointment.
I could blame the person who gave my son a substance that made him pass out.
I could blame that person for not knowing basic first aid, that would have saved my son.
But none of that would bring him back.
I feel for the parents in this case.
But their anger and need for blame and revenge is misplaced.

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 14/08/2018 16:40

endof I am so sorry Flowers

AnyFucker · 14/08/2018 16:47

Oh yes. There is more than a whiff of sexism and racism in this case.

I am sorry endof