Women campaign against doctor

Nicki Evans-Young is set to carry on campaigning

A women's group which wants a doctor banned for botching abortions said it will continue its legal fight.

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

But he was told on Friday, in a hearing behind closed doors, that he can keep his place on the medical register.

A group of 35 West Midlands women he operated on want him struck off and the GMC's decision referred to the High Court.

The allegations have not been made public by the GMC, but solicitors for the Women Fighting For Faith group say they related to sterilisations, hysterectomies and diagnoses of Down's Syndrome in babies.

A GMC Fitness to Practise panel in Manchester ruled Mr Gbinigie, from Barnt Green, Worcestershire, was able to continue working.

Mr Gbinigie, who trained in Nigeria before taking up a post as a gynaecologist at Wordsley Hospital in 1995, has declined to comment.

Andrew Gbinigie is to be allowed to carry on practising

One of the complainants, Nicki Evans-Young, from Kingswinford in the Black Country, gave birth after a failed sterilisation by Dr Gbinigie.

In 2004 the mother-of-five, who filed a complaint against Mr Gbinigie, was awarded an out-of-court settlement by Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust.

She said of Friday's hearing: "I'm devastated. We are all hugely disappointed that the GMC have brought no action against Mr Gbinigie.

"We're not going to let it go. We will continue our fight to have Gbinigie struck off."

Her solicitor Louise Forsyth said: "This has been a very difficult time for the women involved.

"After a very long and frustrating battle it is extremely disappointing that Dr Gbinigie has had no action taken against him by the GMC and has been judged fit to practise.

"We will be reporting the GMC's decision to the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence, who can choose to refer the matter to the High Court if they deem the GMC's decision to be unduly lenient."