Doctors accused over 'botched ops'

The doctors appear before a disciplinary panel

A GP pushed two mothers into having their babies circumcised - then referred them to a surgeon who botched both operations, a disciplinary hearing was told on Monday.

Dr Michael Harbinson is accused of presenting the option of circumcision as a "fait accompli" to the mothers.

Then he recommended his friend Peter Silverstone, a retired surgeon.

Mr Silverstone, of Newcastle upon Tyne, is accused by the General Medical Council of failing to anaesthetise either boy properly - they both screamed uncontrollably during their operations.

In addition, the GMC says that one suffered unnecessary bleeding after the operation - it claims that the surgeon, while experienced in performing religious circumcision, was not experienced in carrying them out for medical reasons.

Both doctors are accused of serious professional misconduct by providing substandard treatment to patients before, during and after operations.

Dr Harbinson, from Rowlands Gill, Tyne and Wear, and Mr Silverstone both deny the charges.

The first boy, six-and-a-half months old, and referred to only as "A" during the hearing, was taken to see Dr Harbinson because he was suffering from cysts under the foreskin.

Miss Zoe Johnson, representing the GMC, told the hearing in London: "Dr Harbinson was responsible for encouraging the parents to have their boys circumcised.

'Arrangement'

"He presented the case as a fait accompli. He did not explain the alternative to circumcision - something that was essential, given the circumstances.

"It appears there was some sort of arrangement whereby Dr Harbinson paid Mr Silverstone out of his GP fundholding budget.

"Mr Silverstone was insufficiently experienced in circumcision for medical purposes."

The second boy, referred to as "B", was circumcised in September 1998.

Miss Johnson told the hearing that the boy's mother felt pressurised into allowing her son to be circumcised.

She said: "It appears it was his mantra repeated over and over again. Mrs B maintained that she didn't want her son circumcised."

Eventually persuaded, the mother waited outside the clinic while the procedure took place.

Miss Johnson said: "On her return she heard B screaming as if he was in pain.

"The bandage had come loose and was soaked with blood."

'Bang out of order'

Mrs B said that Dr Harbinson was generally a "fantastic" doctor but on this occasion he was "bang out of order".

She said: "I should have been given other options. I should have been given the choices of this and that but you do what your doctor says because you don't know what to do in a situation."

In both cases, said Miss Johnson, analgesia was inadequate, and in the second case, of child B, the surgeon allowed the boy to go home while he was still bleeding.

Mr Silverstone also denies allegations that he failed in his treatment of two women on whom he performed hysterectomies, the details of which will be heard at a later date.

The hearing continues.