Child death doctors could be struck off

Familes of dead children protest outside GMC hearing

Three doctors accused of serious professional misconduct after the deaths of 29 babies in their care could be struck off, following a decision by the General Medical Council.

The GMC ruled that there was enough evidence to take further action in the first stage of its inquiry into James Wisheart, a cardiothoracic surgeon, his assistant Dr Janardhan Dhasmana and Dr John Roylance, former chief executive of the United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust. All three denied the charges.

Longest case

The case began in October 1997 and is the longest in the GMC's history. It is estimated to have cost the council between £1m and £2m.

Today's result is the first in a two-stage disciplinary process. The GMC will now decide whether the doctors are guilty of serious professional misconduct and what the penalty should be. The doctors can appeal against the verdict.

Once the case is over, Health Secretary Frank Dobson will call an inquiry. The inquiry is expected to be internal, although parents whose children died in the operations are calling for a public inquiry.

One, Maria Shortis, of the Bristol Heart Children Action Group, said: "We need a public inquiry with full judicial powers so that the whole situation can be put to rest."

Between 1988 and 1995, twenty-nine new-born babies died and four suffered serious brain damage following operations carried out at Bristol Royal Infirmary by Dr Dhasmana and Mr Wisheart.

'Learning curve'

Dr Dhasmana, 58, is accused of performing complicated heart operations on new-born babies without seeking adequate training. Nine out of 13 of the babies he operated on between 1992 and 1995 died.

He said the deaths represented "a learning curve", but admitted he had wanted to stop operating after the fifth death, but he said he continued due to parental pressure.

James Wisheart: accused of serious professional misconduct

Mr Wisheart, 59, is accused in connection with the deaths of nine out of 15 babies on whom he performed hole-in-the-heart operations between 1990 and 1994.

He was allegedly warned not to carry out the operations. It is also claimed that he failed to give parents adequate information about the risks of the operation, was not properly trained to do the operations, did not put the interests of the patient first and did not stop Dr Dhasmana, who was his junior, from carrying out his operations. Mr Wisheart retired in 1996.

Whistleblower

Dr Roylance, 67, is accused of not intervening to stop Mr Wisheart and Dr Dhasmana, despite being informed about their records and of not referring patients to other hospitals where they could get treatment.

Anaethetist Dr Steve Bolsin blew the whistle on the doctors, compiling statistics on operations and showing them to Dr Roylance and Mr Wisheart. He is now living in Australia, as he is unable to get work in the UK.

Parents say the operations could have been carried out at Birmingham Children's Hospital which has a 99% success rate. They also claim that not all the deaths caused by the doctors have been brought before the GMC.

Self-regulation

The case could have wide implications about doctors' self-regulation. Many doctors now learn new techniques by observing operations being done and then try it themselves.

If the three Bristol doctors are struck off, it will mean other doctors are subject to stricter codes of conduct. Medical bodies are already developing new guidelines on self-regulation.