Abortion doctor allowed to work

The GMC decides Andrew Gbinigie can carry on practising

A gynaecologist whose techniques were criticised by several women can keep his place on the medical register, a tribunal has ruled.

Andrew Gbinigie was found guilty of serious professional misconduct by the General Medical Council (GMC) in 2003.

He had botched an abortion, pulling out a woman's ovary and part of her bowel.

A GMC Fitness to Practise panel, sitting in private on Friday, ruled Mr Gbinigie, from Barnt Green, Worcs, was able to continue working.

Nicki Evans-Young, one of the women who brought the case against Mr Gbinigie, said she was "devastated" at the result and vowed to challenge the GMC's decision.

A GMC spokeswoman said she was not able to release details of the hearing but confirmed the gynaecologist now had full registration, subject to the conditions placed on him in 2003.

That hearing was told how Mr Gbinigie accidentally pulled out a piece of a woman's bowel during an abortion at Birmingham's Calthorpe Clinic.

The patient's life was only saved after three consultants at the Birmingham Women's Hospital carried out a five-hour emergency operation in which the 21-year-old's right kidney had to be removed.

Harassing nurses

But the GMC panel ruled that the gynaecologist could continue to work - and carry out abortions - providing he abided by a set of conditions for three years.

Following the 2003 ruling, 35 women came forward claiming they had suffered at the hands of Mr Gbinigie, with 15 agreeing to provide evidence for a second GMC probe into the gynaecologist's performance.

In a set of separate allegations, Mr Gbinigie was also found guilty of sexually harassing two nurses at the Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust.

Mr Gbinigie trained in Nigeria before taking up a post as a gynaecologist at Wordsley Hospital in 1995.

The Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust said in a statement: "Mr Gbinigie has not been employed by the Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust since 2000, when he resigned from post.

"The trust did not take any action against Mr Gbinigie due to his resignation."