GMC panel considers doctor's fitness to practice after surgeon removes wrong kidney
31/05/2006
May I thank you for the way my accident claim has been handled, after my accident my confidence was very low indeed but the sympathetic handling of my case restored my confidence.
John, Sheffield
A doctor who removed the wrong kidney of one of his patients in error has stood before a General Medical Council (GMC) fitness to practise panel.
The GMC heard how the surgeon removed the wrong kidney because he did not read the patient's medical records or discuss the operation properly with her. The operation was carried out at the Middlesex Hospital in London.
The surgeon removed the woman's transplant kidney which was still functioning instead of her diseased natural kidney.
Although both kidneys were on the patient's right side, she had told the surgeon it was the painful polycystic organ which was to be removed.
After surgery, when it was noticed that there was no catheter to support the transplant kidney the surgeon realised he had taken out the wrong organ.
The woman is now dependent on dialysis three times a week and is waiting for a kidney transplant.
She said she had needed her diseased kidney to be removed because she was in constant pain and had a swollen stomach.
The woman was advised to have the operation an outpatient appointment for a thyroid condition. The surgery was intended to improve her health and mobility.
Fitness to practice
Fitness to practice is one route the GMC can use to look at a doctor. Under this route the doctor cannot be struck off the medical register, but can be ordered to re-train, and can be suspended for a period of time.
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