To feel sorry for this doctor?

[HarryStylesismycrack]

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

The negligent act (i.e. the breach by BG of her duty of care, or one of multiple breaches...) occurred when BG called off CPR because she thought he was someone else.

But if that breach did not lead to Jack's death, as has been agreed, then how can a manslaughter charge be justified? Surely the negligent act must have contributed to the death for causation to be proven?

It’s still unclear to me how she was censured for not fully appreciating the significance of the blood gas (although Jack was getting the right treatment) while her boss, who was ultimately responsible, also knew, did nothing but he wasn’t deemed culpable. That is seriously fucked up. No wonder the consultant has slunk off in shame

I have read a couple of reports on this and the thing I find really unsettling is that it seems if she had focused more on back covering and less on reflection she may well have had a different outcome. As demonstrated by the consultant.

That's the message that scares me more than anything.

The consultant took himself rapidly off the GMC register and left the country. He's scum.

mother but if he knew about the gas then as her boss and superior it was his responsibility thereafter. Not, “yeah I knew about the result and sure it was critical but I didn’t do anything about it and it wasn’t my fault that I didn’t”.

The fact that he’s buggered off highlights that this case is unusual. Deaths aren’t unusual, not even paediatric deaths and it’s also not unusual for reviews to highlight deficiencies in management but it’s very very unusual to stop working just because a patient died.

I agree laptop. Complete scum, trying to save his own arse and inadequate suppprt.

banana this is what I am unclear about. If CPR didn't start or was stopped, which was a breach of BG's duty of care, does it still constitute a breach which caused death even though there was an intervening act by the mother? (It's 20 years since I studied tort)

If the drug was the/a cause the how can it have been an intervening act when it came first? If anything the pause in the resuscitation would have been the intervening act (what is the Latin? That’s going to bug me. I hated tort. Novus Actus Invernis or something? ), though it sounds like no effect in fact.

The reason the nurse isn't under discussion is because she seems to have decided that, despite a decades long career with an impeccable record, she's finished and doesn't want to pursue a nursing career after this.

The CPR stopping wasn't a breach that caused death, because it didn't cause death. It's accepted that was a mistake but the only thing it really caused was great distress to the parents. Which is significant in itself of course, but shouldn't be considered to be part of the chain of causation on that basis.

Motherhood what you say makes sense and has given me more of an education in this case but also made me see how scary a situation it actually is for drs in a clearer light.

It's horrific that a dr can be charged with GNM for her failure in her duty to a patient (which she admits) but even where that failure is as a result of things outside her control.

And also terrifying that the trusts you should be held responsible probably won't be because it's likely they'll have better financial and legal resources than the civilian.

the thing I find really unsettling is that it seems if she had focused more on back covering and less on reflection she may well have had a different outcome

It's CYA medicine - cover your arse. There's a really heavy focus on it in medical school now because of cases like this.

If it wasn't written then medico legally, it was never done. This is why people end up having daily bloods when twice a week would suffice in reality (because even though they're not expecting a change, failure to diagnose is negligence). It's why notes are filled with 'chased cardio review, no answer x3' because if that patient has an MI in the night, their name is down as having attempted to cover for that possibility. It's why elderly people get asked every visit if they'd like to go on such and such a drug despite them having said multiple times they don't want it - because what if the time they don't ask is when they changed their mind and the nearest relative says as much in court? And it's why 90% of doctors fake their written reflections now after this case. They'll reflect verbally with their supervisor, but they won't write something real down because reflections are not protected legally.

@whywhywhywhywhyyy

It's so depressing. Do you work in medicine?

So glad I have all but left my nursing career behind. The anxiety it caused me was immense. I can totally relate to shifts like this Dr and Nurse had to face.

I feel very strongly that the GMC handled the case appallingly. I have signed this petition calling for the GMC to remove Charlie Massey from his position as CEO. Please sign if you agree with me www.change.org/p/general-medical-council-gmc-to-remove-charlie-massey-as-ceo

Thanks, lovelyfruit. Done and dusted.

I would not want any of my kids treated by that Doctor. While other factors must be taken into account, her incompetence was the main reason that poor little boy died.

The only people I feel sorry for is the child and his family. A family left in tatters, and now the medical professionals are playing politics with his death.

Shame on them......

Doctors and other medical professionals will try to cover up for each other. I have experienced this first hand with my own father. In his case, the GMC made sure that the truth came out. I support and trust them 100%.

I disagree medical professionals are playing politics. They are not protecting each other. The overwhelming majority of doctors care about patient safety and the Bawa-Garba ruling negatively affected that.