GMC is accused of racism after barring paediatrician over death of boy, 6, who had sepsis as professional body claims a white doctor would have been treated more leniently

by HoratioTarr Sat Feb 03, 2018 1:07 pm

The doctors’ watchdog has been accused of racism for striking off a paediatrician over the death of a child.

Hadiza Bawa-Garba was barred by the General Medical Council for making fatal errors while caring for six-year-old Jack Adcock, who had sepsis.

But a leading professional body claims its decision was partly motivated by racism.

The British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, which represents 5,000 doctors, said a white doctor in the same circumstances would have been treated more leniently.

Dr Ramesh Mehta, the president, who is also a paediatrician, said the GMC may have been partly influenced by the fact that Bawa-Garba, a Muslim who moved to Britain from her native Nigeria in 1994, wears a headscarf.

He said: ‘We are saying that racism is one of the parts of it, it’s not the only part.

‘If it was a white doctor who was affected, we believe that the whole system and their approach to the case would have been different.’

The case has angered doctors and many are threatening to stop reporting their own mistakes, for fear of suffering the same fate.

Later today, doctors will stage a protest outside the GMC offices in London.

Jack Adcock – who had Down’s Syndrome and a heart condition – was admitted to the Leicester Royal Infirmary on February 18, 2011 with breathing difficulties and vomiting. He died 11 hours later.

He was seen by Bawa-Garba, the most senior doctor on the shift, who had just returned from 13 months of maternity leave.

Six-year-old Jack Adcock, who had downs syndrome, died from sepsis after he was originally diagnosed with a stomach bug
Six-year-old Jack Adcock, who had downs syndrome, died from sepsis after he was originally diagnosed with a stomach bug

She initially diagnosed him with a stomach bug, when he in fact had the life-threatening condition sepsis. Later, she failed to act on blood test results which showed he had a kidney infection.

On that shift, however, she was performing the roles of three doctors and overseeing six wards because the hospital was so understaffed.

Bawa-Garba, now 40, was initially handed a 12-month suspension by an independent panel, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, last June. But in an unprecedented move, the GMC overturned this ruling in the High Court and Bawa-Garba was struck off on January 25.

Dr Mehta, 70, who used to work for the GMC assessing the skills of international doctors and was a consultant paediatrician at Bedford Hospital, said: ‘It is likely to be related to racism – at least in part – and this could be direct or indirect.’

He said indirect racism is where an organisation or its members has unconscious prejudices. Direct racism, on the other hand, means they are discriminating against a person intentionally.

Charlie Massey, chief executive of the GMC, said: ‘We take our responsibility to be a fair and transparent regulator very seriously.

‘Research has indicated that it is the nature and seriousness of allegations that is the primary driver of the outcome of a referral or investigation, rather than ethnicity.’

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-5346713/GMC-accused-racism-barring-paediatrician.html

by Raggamuffin Sat Feb 03, 2018 1:12 pm

Can they prove that a white doctor would have been treated more leniently?

I thought the other issue is that this doctor mistook the patient for another one and said not to resuscitate him. That's quite's a bad mistake.

by HoratioTarr Sat Feb 03, 2018 1:28 pm

it's pretty obvious here that this is a case of when all else fails, wave the racism flag. If this really was the case, why wasn't this brought up originally when she was first disciplined?

At her hearing, it was revealed that this case was not just a momentary lapse. The prosecution say that Jack’s care was neglected over a protracted period of time: her failings were compounded by a failure to go back and reassess Jack despite clear indications that his underlying condition was continuing.

These were not just simple breaches of duty, but really serious breaches amounting to gross negligence.

Doctors are up in arms over this as I guess they are all now shitting themselves in case they make a mistake that kills someone.

But this is a job that requires years and years of training so that they know what the hell they should be doing. If a truck driver fell asleep at the wheel and killed someone it wouldn't matter how much he'd worked, how many shifts, etc, he would still be convicted of manslaughter, probably go to jail and definitely lose his licence. So what makes doctors above this law that everyone else has to adhere to and observe?

Why are they a special case? I suspect it's been more about closing ranks in the past, about shutting mouths. I personally know an NHS whistleblower and her life was made a living hell for daring to open her mouth about appalling conditions and needless deaths at Tameside hospital.

It's about time medical staff were brought to bear if they are negligent or arrogant or lazy in their work.

Dragging out the race card and waving a hijab excuse is just pathetic. I should think a white person would, and should, be subjected to the same laws. In our very PC culture here in the UK workplace, I doubt very much anyone would have dared convict her on the basis of her ethnic background.

by HoratioTarr Sat Feb 03, 2018 1:29 pm

Raggamuffin wrote:Can they prove that a white doctor would have been treated more leniently?

I thought the other issue is that this doctor mistook the patient for another one and said not to resuscitate him. That's quite's a bad mistake.

It's a dreadful mistake. I read at the time that a nurse tried to advise this doctor but got shouted down.

I think we're not hearing all the facts here either.

by Victorismyhero Sat Feb 03, 2018 5:59 pm

If at first you cant excuse your actions scweam "wacisr"

by 'Wolfie Sun Feb 04, 2018 1:41 pm

Lord Foul wrote:
If at first you cant excuse your actions scweam "wacisr"

^^^^^^^^

GMC is accused of racism after barring paediatrician over death of boy, 6, who had sepsis as professional body claims a white doctor would have been treated more leniently 3489511464

Channeling one of Deano's favourite phrases there, Victor !!!

by Guest Sun Feb 04, 2018 2:59 pm

The minute people start to look for excuses that doctors make and then even worse "shout racism". Means that some doctors are being irresponsible. And do not want to take ownership for their mistakes.

This is a poor path some doctors are going down and whilst I sympathise when doctors get ridiculous law suits against them. Like absurd claims based around whether they seemed sympathetic enough at a persons death. Is simple wrong and doctors should only face legal proceedings, if they have fallen foul of the law. Not something based arbitrary.

Those doctors defending the one who made this mistake are not only being insulting to the parents, but trying poorly to take away responsibility for her poor actions. She made a mistake that cost a life and people have to be responsible for that.

by Victorismyhero Sun Feb 04, 2018 4:30 pm

WhoseYourWolfie wrote:
Lord Foul wrote:
If at first you cant excuse your actions scweam "wacisr"

^^^^^^^^

Channeling one of Deano's favourite phrases there, Victor !!!

Seems them oestrogen mimic have gotten to flea as well.....

by Victorismyhero Sun Feb 04, 2018 4:35 pm

WhoseYourWolfie wrote:
Lord Foul wrote:
If at first you cant excuse your actions scweam "wacisr"

^^^^^^^^

Channeling one of Deano's favourite phrases there, Victor !!!

Semms them oestrogen mimics have been at work in fleakeeper for a whille too

Looks like hes got thea same disease as hanky panky.......say something he doesnt wish to hear ant what rubbish does the snowflake cretin haul out.....oh yes .......lets ring out theof name of the demon deano.

What is it whith these pathetic lefty snowflakes....when they cant argue the point made they resort to insult and violence.......

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GMC is accused of racism after barring paediatrician over death of boy, 6, who had sepsis as professional body claims a white doctor would have been treated more leniently

GMC is accused of racism after barring paediatrician over death of boy, 6, who had sepsis as professional body claims a white doctor would have been treated more leniently

Re: GMC is accused of racism after barring paediatrician over death of boy, 6, who had sepsis as professional body claims a white doctor would have been treated more leniently

Re: GMC is accused of racism after barring paediatrician over death of boy, 6, who had sepsis as professional body claims a white doctor would have been treated more leniently

Re: GMC is accused of racism after barring paediatrician over death of boy, 6, who had sepsis as professional body claims a white doctor would have been treated more leniently

Re: GMC is accused of racism after barring paediatrician over death of boy, 6, who had sepsis as professional body claims a white doctor would have been treated more leniently

Re: GMC is accused of racism after barring paediatrician over death of boy, 6, who had sepsis as professional body claims a white doctor would have been treated more leniently

Re: GMC is accused of racism after barring paediatrician over death of boy, 6, who had sepsis as professional body claims a white doctor would have been treated more leniently

Re: GMC is accused of racism after barring paediatrician over death of boy, 6, who had sepsis as professional body claims a white doctor would have been treated more leniently

Re: GMC is accused of racism after barring paediatrician over death of boy, 6, who had sepsis as professional body claims a white doctor would have been treated more leniently

Re: GMC is accused of racism after barring paediatrician over death of boy, 6, who had sepsis as professional body claims a white doctor would have been treated more leniently