Death doctor used excessive force

Hollie Dinning was delivered at St Peter's Hospital, Chertsey

A hospital doctor thought to have left the UK after being arrested over a baby's death has been found to have used excessive force delivering her.

Vladan Visnjevac used too much force during the birth of Hollie Dinning, according to a General Medical Council (GMC) Fitness to Practise Panel.

He was working as an obstetric registrar at St Peter's Hospital, Chertsey, Surrey, in May 2002.

The doctor, who was not at the hearing, is believed to be living in Bosnia.

Dr Visnjevac was working as an obstetric registrar at the hospital on 24 May 2002 when Tracey Dinning was admitted 37 weeks into her pregnancy.

The panel has found that Dr Visnjevac made a number of serious errors of judgment Roland Doven, panel chairman

The panel found that he made three unsuccessful attempts at a forceps delivery, before delivering the child at 2226 BST.

Hollie Dinning died at 0210 BST on 26 May.

The Fitness to Practice panel found that Dr Visnjevac did not properly assess or record the level and position of the head before forceps delivery, and did not reassess the clinical situation after the first attempt failed.

He was found to have used excessive force at some stage during three unsuccessful attempts, and again when he did achieve delivery on the fourth attempt.

Chairman Roland Doven said: "The panel has found that Dr Visnjevac made a number of serious errors of judgment in relation to the care and treatment which he gave to Mrs Dinning and baby Hollie.

'Wholly unacceptable'

"It has also found that these errors of judgment were, with one exception, inappropriate, irresponsible, a risk to patient safety, not in the best interests of his patient and not of a standard expected of a registered medical practitioner."

He added: "The panel considered that Dr Visnjevac's [actions] with respect to his treatment of Mrs Dinning and baby Hollie were wholly unacceptable and represent failings of conduct and clinical competence which are so serious that they raise the question as to whether Dr Visnjevac should continue to practice either with restrictions on his registration or at all."

Dr Visnjevac was arrested by Surrey Police on 11 July 2002, on suspicion of manslaughter, after the force was asked to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death by the coroner.

In December 2002 a warrant for his arrest was obtained after he failed to answer police bail.

The hearing was adjourned until Friday when the panel will decide whether any sanctions should be placed on Dr Visnjevac.