GMC panel recommends gynaecologist Andrew Gbinigie returns to practice
24/04/2006
Thank you for all your time and excellent work and rest assured that if myself or family or friends require any legal help in the future I will refer them to yourselves.
Michael, Crawley
Andrew Gbinigie - a gynaecologist who botched operations on many women has been allowed to practice again.
At a General Medical Council (GMC) hearing on 22nd April 2006 a GMC panel ruled that Gbinigie should stay on the medical register after undergoing re-training to update his clinical skills.
Gbinigie faced a GMC hearing earlier this year in January 2006 where he was ruled fit to practice pending a number of conditions and restrictions.
The GMC will review Gbinigie's case again in nine months, when it will examine evidence of his retraining.
Panel Chairman Dr Howard Freeman said that the panel was unsatisfied that Gbinigie was safe to return to unrestricted practice yet.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists supports Gbinigie returning to work.
Gbinigie was previously found guilty of serious professional misconduct by the GMC in 2003.
The hearing on Saturday related to abortions Gbinigie had carried out, one where he had mistakenly pulled out the patient's ovary and part of her bowel.
Gbinigie has also been found guilty of sexually harassing two nurses at the Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust.
Following the 2003 ruling, 35 women came forward claiming they had suffered at the hands of Gbinigie.
Twelve of these women had their evidence considered by a GMC panel in January 2006. The cases related to sterilisations, hysterectomies and diagnoses of Down's Syndrome in babies.
Specialist clinical negligence solicitor Louise Forsyth who represented the twelve women said:
"After three years of waiting for a decision from the GMC my clients feel their concerns were dismissed and they are very disappointed that Gbinigie is still being allowed to practice."
"It is very worrying that a doctor who has been investigated by the GMC, found guilty of Serious Professional Misconduct and undertaken no medical work since 2003 has apparently made no efforts to keep his medical knowledge and skills up to date, even during the period of conditional registration when he knew he would be reviewed again by the GMC."
"It is things like this that fuel our clients' feelings that the GMC is not there to protect public safety, as it suggests, but there to protect doctors," said Louise.
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