Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London has revealed a troubling report on the actions of former limb reconstruction surgeon Yaser Jabbar. An investigation has shown that Jabbar's surgeries inflicted harm on nearly 100 children, raising significant concerns about his medical practices.

Findings of the Investigation

The internal review, initiated in response to concerns over Jabbar's operations, concluded that 94 out of 789 patients were harmed under his care at GOSH between 2017 and 2022. The majority of those affected were children who underwent surgeries involving limb-lengthening and reconstruction procedures, including the use of metal plates and bone grafts.

In total, 91 children were harmed during surgical procedures performed by Jabbar. The treatments, while inherently high-risk, were marred by substandard practices, according to the hospital's findings. The exact extent of avoidable harm remains uncertain, yet the report highlighted premature removal of bone fixation devices and improper handling of bone cuts.

Personal Impacts

One particularly devastating case involved a young girl named Bunty who had multiple surgeries under Jabbar's care and ultimately required amputation of her lower leg. The BBC has reached out to Jabbar for his comments on these findings.

Consequences and Reactions

Following the alarming revelations, the Metropolitan Police are reviewing the report to determine if a criminal investigation is warranted. Jabbar, who trained in the UK, is believed to be residing abroad without a medical license to practice in the UK anymore.

NHS England's London region is currently conducting a separate review of GOSH's management of this case. The hospital has already implemented recommendations from the Royal College of Surgeons, including enhanced training for staff and more rigorous procedures for handling complex cases.

Hospital's Response

Matthew Shaw, GOSH's CEO, expressed profound regret over the situation, calling it a dark day in the hospital's history. Shaw emphasized the need for speedy action once issues became apparent and acknowledged the challenge of identifying such problems in hyper-specialized fields. He also stated the importance of rebuilding trust with affected families.

Prior to these findings coming to light, GOSH had received complaints about Jabbar, but no action was deemed necessary at that time. The trust remains committed to learning from these events and preventing future incidents.

Source:bbc uk