Struck-off surgeon's patients tell of ordeal

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Former patients of Mohammed Bahaa Madkour want recognition for their suffering

Patients harmed by a hospital doctor who was eventually struck off have spoken for the first time of their suffering at his hands.

Mohammed Bahaa Madkour, a consultant at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, was dealt with by the General Medical Council (GMC) last September.

Carol Frazer, whose face was paralysed after surgery, told BBC Wales' Taro Naw, shown on S4C, her life was ruined.

The patients are "disgusted" that their cases were not raised at his hearing.

They told the programme that while they accept that it would not have affected the final outcome, acknowledgment of their cases would have given recognition to their suffering.

Taro Naw first investigated Mr Madkour eight years ago, after being contacted by a patient claiming that she had been permanently maimed by him.

The programme then spoke to several consultants who had worked with Mr Madkour and who privately expressed their concern at his competence to practice.

Patients who had received out-of-court settlements also came forward.

In September 2009, following the death of a patient, Mr Madkour was found guilty of faking patient records and of lying.

I could not believe what I saw - my mouth was drooping Eirian Stanley, former patient

A total of 18 cases of misconduct were found against him when he failed to spot throat cancer in a patient.

Over a period of 10 years, a number of his previous patients have received out-of-court settlements, but the health trust which employed Mr Madkour did not admit liability for the injuries caused.

The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Trust stated last year that at the time Mr Madkour was struck off no one else had been harmed.

But they did not rule out that other patients during his time as an ear nose and throat surgeon at Ysbyty Gwynedd could have been injured.

During the GMC panel of inquiry, no evidence of previous patient injury was put forward and indeed his barrister spoke of his "unblemished record".

Leading medical negligence barrister Rachel Vasmer told the programme that trusts did not have to reveal evidence of previous incidents or settlements unless they had gone before the GMC.

Carol Frazer, who received an out of court settlement following an operation on her ear, told the programme: "My life was ruined after the operation in 1994.

"My face was paralysed down one side and my daughter was frightened of me."

Eirian Stanley, another former patient, said she was shocked when she saw her face in a mirror after Mr Madkour operated on her ear 20 years ago.

My face was paralysed down one side and my daughter was frightened of me Carol Frazer, former patient

"I could not believe what I saw - my mouth was drooping," she said.

"It changed my life. I lost my hearing. My face... it changed. It was like a form of facial palsy. I couldn't go back to work because I couldn't hear. "

She added that she had been pleased to learn that Mr Madkour had been struck off.

"Not before time," she said. "He should have gone years back, I think. But there you go.

She said that she had been upset to learn that at the hearing the hospital trust had claimed that only one patient had been harmed by Mr Madkour.

"I think there were quite a few in the past and if they look back they will find them.

"I mean as if we count for nothing; our lives meant nothing. We were quite hurt by it."

Taro Naw is on Monday, March 15, on S4C at 2130 GMT, with English subtitles on 888.