Baby deaths inquiry result
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.THE General Medical Council is this week expected to pass judgment on three doctors at the centre of the biggest ever medical disciplinary inquiry.
The doctors' professional body will decide if heart surgeons James Wisheart and Janardan Dhasmana, and Dr John Roylance, former chief executive of the United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust, are guilty of serious professional misconduct.
The GMC's disciplinary committee will decide whether the doctors should be struck off after hearing evidence about 53 operations on babies and toddlers between 1988 and 1995. Twenty-nine died and four suffered serious brain damage.
Mr Wisheart, 59, of Bristol, now retired, and Mr Dhasmana, 58, are accused of carrying out heart operations on children beyond their clinical competence at Bristol Royal Infirmary despite warnings that at least twice as many babies died in their care as in other hospitals.
They are also charged with failing to tell parents the true risks of putting a child in their hands for surgery.
Dr Roylance, 67, of Bristol, is charged with failing to stop the surgeons operating, even when colleagues made clear their concerns about the number of children who had died.
All three deny the charges.
The GMC panel, which retired to consider its verdict last Friday, must confine itself to ethical issues such as what the parents were told about the risks of surgery and at what point the surgeons should have realised the mortality rate was above the national average.
If found guilty, the doctors could be admonished, conditions could be put on their registration or they could be struck off the medical register.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments