Doctor suspended over scan errors

Dr Husien 'failed to provide an acceptable level of care'

A doctor who wrongly gave the all-clear to 20 breast cancer patients has been suspended from practising for a year.

Consultant radiologist Amjad Husien was suspended by hospital bosses after staff questioned his work in 2005.

A total of 176 women had to be recalled and retested after the mistakes were identified, and one of them later died.

A General Medical Council (GMC) panel ruled he "repeatedly failed to provide an acceptable level of care to patients" at Trafford General Hospital.

He placed patients at risk and showed serious and persistent failures to meet required medical standards, the panel added.

'Safeguard patients'

Dr Husien's breast scan blunders led to a review of almost 2,500 mammograms at Trafford General and North Manchester General Hospital, where he also worked.

Sitting in Manchester, the fitness to practise hearing concerned 17 patients who were referred to Dr Husien.

The panel concluded he failed to correctly interpret mammograms for 13 patients and ultrasounds for seven patients. In three cases he failed on both counts.

There were two cases where he had the chance to look again at the mammograms but still failed to come up with the right diagnosis.

Dr Husien told the hearing he would never work in breast radiology again and would give written undertakings that would safeguard patients.

'Beyond reproach'

The GMC also heard from Dr Richard Campbell, the retired medical director at Trafford General.

He said Dr Husien was working under difficult conditions in the "dysfunctional" radiology department.

But former colleagues at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport said his performance there was "beyond reproach".

The panel ruled the mitigating factors did not outweigh his personal professional responsibility for maintaining his clinical performance.

Another fitness to practise panel will review his clinical knowledge in a year's time.