Botched operation doc could be struck off

12:10pm Friday 22nd March 2013 in News By Jon Austin

Surinder Venables Surinder Venables

A GYNAECOLOGIST who wrongly removed part of a woman’s womb and later died during an unnecessary procedure could be struck off as a doctor.

Dr Nikolaos Papanikolaou has already admitted a string of blunders at Basildon Hospital, but faces more allegations of carrying out botched procedures at a fitness to practice hearing.

Surinder Venables, 49, from Whitmore Way, Basildon, died after being operated on by Dr Papanikolaou.

She went to the hospital for a routine operation in September 2008 to have three cysts removed, but Mr Papanikolaou removed part of her bowel by mistake during a separate procedure and also perforated her uterus.

Subsequent complications led to her death within a month.

Dr Papanikolaou, who was a specialist registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology at Basildon between February 2008 and February 2009, has admitted charges in relation to Mrs Venables and another patient, but denies charges of botching the earlier births of six babies between March and July 2008.

He is accused of, in three cases, failing to carry out immediate caesarean sections when circumstances required them.

In one case when the baby’s heart rate had dropped for three minutes and one led to a still birth, it is alleged.

Other alleged blunders include leaving medical swabs inside a patient and inappropriately changing the planned birth from a caesarean to normal birth.

Alexandra Felix representing the General Medical Council told the hearing: “This is a case about a doctor who has displayed deficient clinical assessment with outcomes that were sub optimum.”

Dr Papanikolaou was not sacked by Basildon Hospital as a result of any of the incidents.

A hospital spokesman said: “We can confirm that he worked at the hospital between February 2008 and February 2009, but he then left of his own volition. We are unable to provide any further information at this stage because of the investigation.”

The hearing, which began this week, is expected to last until April 12. Sanctions could include being struck off as a doctor, suspended, given an official warning, placed on restricted duties or made to under go training.

Comments (12)

12:15pm Fri 22 Mar 13

The Stinker Returns says...

"A GYNAECOLOGIST who wrongly removed part of a woman’s womb and later died during an unnecessary procedure could be struck off as a doctor." If he has died, how can he be struck off?
"A GYNAECOLOGIST who wrongly removed part of a woman’s womb and later died during an unnecessary procedure could be struck off as a doctor." If he has died, how can he be struck off? The Stinker Returns

12:15pm Fri 22 Mar 13

notinwestcliffanymore says...

STRUCK OFF, he should be charged and tried and found guilty
STRUCK OFF, he should be charged and tried and found guilty notinwestcliffanymore

12:24pm Fri 22 Mar 13

A Pedant says...

How can he be struck off if he's already dead?

Note to Echo staff who post these articles - please start proof reading before you hit 'submit'.
How can he be struck off if he's already dead? Note to Echo staff who post these articles - please start proof reading before you hit 'submit'. A Pedant

12:44pm Fri 22 Mar 13

Rich.,Carol says...

I knew before I read the whole story it was gonna be Basildon hospital. Poor woman. Who can you trust ? If you cant trust your surgeon then ??????
I knew before I read the whole story it was gonna be Basildon hospital. Poor woman. Who can you trust ? If you cant trust your surgeon then ?????? Rich.,Carol

1:40pm Fri 22 Mar 13

Baker-Boy says...

notinwestcliffanymor
e wrote:
STRUCK OFF, he should be charged and tried and found guilty
im sorry think your going a bit far there. it industry they are in life and death.

their are very few stories like this which is a amazing in it self. the work in the smallest margin mistake sometime do lead to death but noone would every go out and kill.

mistake are a part of life sorry for the woman it was her but mistake is a mistake. the story does not say if he is still working somewhere though. and for how many years he had no Mistake as a doctor
[quote][p][bold]notinwestcliffanymor e[/bold] wrote: STRUCK OFF, he should be charged and tried and found guilty[/p][/quote]im sorry think your going a bit far there. it industry they are in life and death. their are very few stories like this which is a amazing in it self. the work in the smallest margin mistake sometime do lead to death but noone would every go out and kill. mistake are a part of life sorry for the woman it was her but mistake is a mistake. the story does not say if he is still working somewhere though. and for how many years he had no Mistake as a doctor Baker-Boy

3:22pm Fri 22 Mar 13

knighs1 says...

Made to under go training! Is this a joke? Surely you have training before you operate/slaughter somebody! The place is a dirty disgusting hole. My late Father contracted MRSA in there, was given two lots of medication that should not have been taken together, which gave him kidney failure and an ulcer before he bled to death on an operating table as they tried to fix the damage they had caused. These people should be held accountable and tried for manslaugher! (Sorry for the rant!)
Made to under go training! Is this a joke? Surely you have training before you operate/slaughter somebody! The place is a dirty disgusting hole. My late Father contracted MRSA in there, was given two lots of medication that should not have been taken together, which gave him kidney failure and an ulcer before he bled to death on an operating table as they tried to fix the damage they had caused. These people should be held accountable and tried for manslaugher! (Sorry for the rant!) knighs1

4:56pm Fri 22 Mar 13

susie5 says...

Don't apologise knighs1 for your rant. I agree that human mistakes can be made, but there appears to be no accountability for negligence and the lack of care which follows. I know from experience at another local hospital. In the end we are left with only that helpless rant.
Don't apologise knighs1 for your rant. I agree that human mistakes can be made, but there appears to be no accountability for negligence and the lack of care which follows. I know from experience at another local hospital. In the end we are left with only that helpless rant. susie5

8:51pm Fri 22 Mar 13

Sean4u says...

"A GYNAECOLOGIST who wrongly removed part of a woman’s womb and later died"
"In one case when the baby’s heart rate had dropped for three minutes and one led to a still birth, it is alleged."
Imagine the horror of losing a loved one to gross incompetence and then reading it reported in this fashion. It must seem like a conspiracy.
"A GYNAECOLOGIST who wrongly removed part of a woman’s womb and later died" "In one case when the baby’s heart rate had dropped for three minutes and one led to a still birth, it is alleged." Imagine the horror of losing a loved one to gross incompetence and then reading it reported in this fashion. It must seem like a conspiracy. Sean4u

8:54pm Fri 22 Mar 13

Mikkel1 says...

DISGUSTING!
DISGUSTING! Mikkel1

10:33pm Fri 22 Mar 13

whataday says...

Unbelievable
Unbelievable whataday

11:44pm Fri 22 Mar 13

watchdog17 says...

http://www.bbc.co.uk
/news/uk-england-ess
ex-21894824 very interesting reading in view of the above.

Its about time this place of death was closed down.New Chief execs mean nothing when most of the staff up there are totally inadequate and a large number can hardly speak english.
My condolences to Surinas husband for this needless tragedy
http://www.bbc.co.uk /news/uk-england-ess ex-21894824 very interesting reading in view of the above. Its about time this place of death was closed down.New Chief execs mean nothing when most of the staff up there are totally inadequate and a large number can hardly speak english. My condolences to Surinas husband for this needless tragedy watchdog17

6:13am Sat 23 Mar 13

soul man says...

this is another mid staffs scenario, its our local house of death, if your ill and have to be taken there take your own coffin, last night on the news it made a statement saying there will now be an investigation as to the high percentage of deaths there, about time, and have you noticed how many different ceo's there have been, something bigtime is going on there, and nobody stays long enough to take the hit over all the failings that occur there
this is another mid staffs scenario, its our local house of death, if your ill and have to be taken there take your own coffin, last night on the news it made a statement saying there will now be an investigation as to the high percentage of deaths there, about time, and have you noticed how many different ceo's there have been, something bigtime is going on there, and nobody stays long enough to take the hit over all the failings that occur there soul man

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