Wrong kidney removed by surgeon

A surgeon removed the wrong kidney from a patient leaving her with a diseased one and requiring dialysis, the General Medical Council (GMC) has been told.

Dr Jerome Blanchard took the kidney out at Middlesex Hospital in March 2004.

Lydia Barnfather, for the GMC, said he failed to read her notes sufficiently or discuss the case with her properly.

Dr Blanchard has denied being unprofessional and not acting in the best interests of the patient. The hearing continues.

Theatre 'confusion'

The GMC was told both kidneys were on the patient's right side and that she suffered from a degenerative disease which causes cysts to build up on the organ.

Ms Barnfather said Dr Blanchard spent little time with the woman when obtaining her consent for surgery.

If he had discussed the operation sufficiently with the her, it would have become clear what operation needed to be performed, she told the Fitness to Practise Panel.

"The impression he gave her was that he was in a hurry," she said.

The mistake was discovered the following day.

The hearing was told a number of other factors contributed to the confusion including problems with the theatre list.

But Ms Barnfather said: "The mistake would never have been made if Mr Blanchard had been carrying out his own duties with regard to getting an informed consent."