Latest news with #MPTS
NDTV
09-07-2025
- Health
- NDTV
Indian-Origin Doctor In UK Suspended For Forcing Mother To Have Baby Using Forceps
An Indian-origin consultant gynaecologist in the UK has been suspended after she was found guilty of serious professional misconduct. The 62-year-old allegedly pressured a first-time mother into a forceps delivery against her will. Premila Thampi, from Mitcham in South London, allegedly bullied the patient - who requested a caesarean section - into accepting forceps-assisted delivery at Milton Keynes University Hospital in October 2016. The woman, 41 weeks pregnant and suffering from a neuromuscular condition, later reportedly said she was feeling traumatised by the experience and said the forceps caused injuries to her baby's head and face. During the encounter, Ms Thampi allegedly made it clear that she was the senior, implying she could have left the delivery to a junior doctor instead of staying beyond her shift. Testimony at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) in Manchester said that she ignored the patient's repeated objections to forceps, saying, "You are putting your own baby at risk." "You need to let me do this, as I don't know what is going to happen to your baby." The patient eventually gave in to the forceps delivery but reportedly shouted at the doctor, "I hate you, you haven't listened," as the instrument was used. "She just marched into the room to ask me if I was ready for an instrumental delivery and then marched back out again. Dr Thampi didn't explain what an instrumental delivery would involve, or what the instruments to be used were... I verbalised to Dr Thampi that I was against the use of forceps," the woman told a British tabloid. The MPTS ruled that Ms Thampi committed serious professional misconduct, citing her failure to obtain informed consent, her pressure on the patient, and her inappropriate communication. It suspended her from medical practice for three weeks. Tribunal chair Tehniat Watson called the misconduct serious, citing lack of consent, patient pressure, and poor communication, and said the "action is needed to mark the seriousness to uphold the wider public interest." In her defence, Ms Thampi argued the patient raised objections to the use of forceps only when it was already too late, from a clinical standpoint, to safely proceed with a caesarean section.
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Addenbrooke's surgeon struck off for indecent images of children
A vascular surgeon has been struck off the medical register after being convicted of having 326 indecent images of Woda was working as a surgeon at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, when he was charged with making indecent photographs and moving images of a 32-year-old, who lives in Trumpington in the city, pleaded guilty to the three offences and was sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court to five months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.A hearing of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) took place last week and was told Woda "fully accepted responsibility for his actions". Police seized two phones and a laptop from the doctor and the MPTS report stated that 50 of the images were Category A, the most was charged on 30 August 2024 and his contract at Addenbrooke's Hospital was terminated with immediate effect. Woda said he drunk 300ml of whiskey at the time of the offence and "was not fully aware of what he was doing".He had "unintentionally acquired a folder containing indecent images" that he "immediately deleted upon recognition".Digital forensic analysis examination established that Woda "actively searched for terms directly associated with indecent images of children". 'Expected standards' The report said: "The tribunal was satisfied that the content of the indecent images, the sexually motivated aspect of his conduct and the use of concealment measures, amounted to an extremely serious breach of professional standards."It therefore concluded that Woda's actions fell far below the expected standards and amounted to serious misconduct."General Medical Council representative Colette Renton said: "The public will be appalled to hear that the doctor, holding the esteemed position as a vascular surgeon, had committed such offences."She submitted that the doctor's actions would have a "serious negative impact" on the reputation of the profession."The public should trust that their clinician is not involved in illegal activity, particularly which pertains to a sexual interest in those who are vulnerable such as children," the report sentence - which was handed down on 9 January - also saw him having to pay a fine of £1,000 and was put on the sex offenders register for 10 also included a rehabilitation activity requirement, the forfeiture and destruction of a phone and laptop and a sexual harm prevention order running until 9 January 2035. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
18-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Retired Birmingham GP suspended after Ledbury animal rights demo
A retired GP who faced court action after she took part in climate change and animal rights protests has had a fresh suspension of her medical Sarah Benn, who worked in Birmingham, was first suspended at a tribunal in 2024 after she took part in a demonstration at a Warwickshire oil terminal, in an animal rights protest in Ledbury in 2023, she was referred for a second hearing before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) this second tribunal ruled her fitness to practise was impaired and she had shown a "sustained pattern of unlawful behaviour". 'A kinder place' The first tribunal suspended her for five months and a second tribunal on Wednesday suspended her for 12 General Medical Council told the tribunal Dr Benn lacked insight, minimised the seriousness of her misconduct and used her position to bring additional attention to climate Dr Benn said the case centred on the expectation that a doctor should uphold the law, and she said the exceptional circumstances of the climate emergency had compelled her to break the said her criminal act had posed no risk to others, did not affect her ability to practise and was not dishonest, aggressive or deceitful, but was "motivated by conscience and a desire to make the world a kinder place". Papers documented how Dr Benn spent 32 years in clinical practice and retired in 2022 when she surrendered her licence, but remained on the medical Benn took part in climate change peaceful protests in 2022 at Kingsbury Oil Terminal in she was found in breach of the injunction and contempt of court, she was sent to prison for 32 days. In February 2023, Dr Benn was arrested for criminal damage after she chalk-sprayed gates and a wall at Sequani Ltd in Ledbury, a company involved in animal papers said Dr Benn pleaded guilty to criminal damage before magistrates in September 2023, but appealed against the sentence at Worcester Crown April 2024, the crown court allowed the appeal and sentenced Dr Benn to a community order for 12 months with a requirement not to enter Sequani Ltd or go near it, and placed restrictions on her access to spray paint. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
North Wales Chronicle
11-06-2025
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
No disciplinary sanction for doctor's ‘grave' failures in care of Martha Mills
Professor Richard Thompson did not refer Martha Mills, 13, to intensive care despite her displaying several high-risk indicators of sepsis. The on-call consultant also chose not to return to London's King's College Hospital to assess her in person as her condition deteriorated. A Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) panel sitting in Manchester had ruled those omissions were misconduct, which they described as 'particularly grave', and found his fitness to practise was impaired. However, on Wednesday the tribunal decided there were 'exceptional circumstances' which justified taking no further action against the world-renowned paediatric liver specialist. Martha had been an inpatient on the hospital's Rays of Sunshine Ward after she suffered a serious injury to her pancreas when she slipped while riding a bike on a family holiday in Wales in July 2021. Weeks later she experienced a fever and increased heart rate, followed by more spikes in her temperature before the consultant hepatologist saw Martha on his morning ward round on Sunday August 29. Prof Thompson left the hospital at 3pm, but was phoned at home two hours later by a trainee doctor, who gave an update on Martha's condition. Medical records showed she had deteriorated over the course of the afternoon, and into the early evening, with a drop in her blood pressure, the appearance of a new rash and increases in heart rate, respiratory rate and body temperature. Tribunal chairman Robin Ince noted that by 5pm there were 'several high-risk indicators' as set out in the Nice guidelines relating to sepsis. The duty registrar called Prof Thompson again at 8.30pm because of ongoing concerns over Martha's fever, but she was kept on the ward despite the continued presence of moderate to high-risk indicators and the absence of meaningful clinical improvement. Martha collapsed on August 30 and was moved to intensive care before she was transferred to London's Great Ormond Street Hospital, where she died in the early hours of August 31. Announcing its conclusions on Wednesday, Mr Ince said: 'Professor Thompson has done everything possible to address his failings. 'The tribunal considered that the best way to repair any harm caused by his failings would be for him to continue to provide his specialist expertise at home and abroad. 'To now – some four years after the index event – remove Professor Thompson from practice, even for a short period of time, for one single lapse of judgment in an otherwise exemplary career would, in the tribunal's view, be akin to punishment which is not the role of the MPTS.' Among the 'exceptional circumstances' cited were that there was no allegation or evidence that Prof Thompson either caused or contributed to Martha's death. There were also systemic failings regarding how the ward functioned at the time with regard to referrals to the paediatric intensive care unit, said the tribunal. Mr Ince said: 'A sufficiently clear message has already been sent to the profession and to the public – that even such an experienced doctor as Professor Thompson could still make serious errors of clinical judgment for which he will be called to account. 'The public would be aware that this finding would remain a stain on Professor Thompson's reputation for the rest of his life.' At a 2022 inquest into her death, a coroner ruled that Martha would most likely have survived if doctors had identified the warning signs and transferred her to intensive care earlier. Martha's mother, Merope Mills, an editor at The Guardian, said she and her husband, Paul Laity, raised concerns about Martha's deteriorating health a number of times but these were not acted on. The couple later successfully campaigned for Martha's Rule to give patients, families and carers the chance to easily request a second opinion from a senior doctor in the same hospital in the event of a suspected deterioration or serious concern. Giving evidence, Prof Thompson told the MPTS hearing that he no longer provided in-patient care because he began to 'doubt my own judgment' after the tragic events. He said he felt 'deep remorse' for Martha's death but did not believe he made any errors in her case, as he denied all the allegations brought by the General Medical Council (GMC). The tribunal heard he had since completed a training course relating to the management of sepsis and a deteriorating child in paediatric care. His barrister, Ben Rich, said Prof Thompson has been a dedicated doctor and specialist for nearly 40 years and had never previously been investigated by a regulator. He said he had a reputation as a 'hard-working and outstanding clinician and researcher, who has an international reputation as one of the leading paediatric liver specialists in the world'. Mr Rich urged the tribunal members to impose an order of conditions involving supervision on Prof Thompson's registration, but the panel disagreed and said such a measure would be 'unnecessary and artificial', as they opted to take no further action. Christopher Rose, for the GMC, said that Prof Thompson should be suspended to send a message to the wider public and the wider profession, given the seriousness of the failings found. The tribunal had cleared Prof Thompson of the GMC's claims that he gave 'outdated, misleading' information on Martha's condition to a consultant colleague in the intensive care unit, and that he failed to mention her rash. In ruling his fitness to practise was impaired, Mr Ince said: 'There had been a significant potential risk of harm to Martha and it was appropriate to send a message to the profession as to the importance of following the basic and fundamental principles as set out in good medical practice so as to ensure that the potential risks of an adverse outcome are always taken into account.'
Leader Live
11-06-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
No disciplinary sanction for doctor's ‘grave' failures in care of Martha Mills
Professor Richard Thompson did not refer Martha Mills, 13, to intensive care despite her displaying several high-risk indicators of sepsis. The on-call consultant also chose not to return to London's King's College Hospital to assess her in person as her condition deteriorated. A Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) panel sitting in Manchester had ruled those omissions were misconduct, which they described as 'particularly grave', and found his fitness to practise was impaired. However, on Wednesday the tribunal decided there were 'exceptional circumstances' which justified taking no further action against the world-renowned paediatric liver specialist. Martha had been an inpatient on the hospital's Rays of Sunshine Ward after she suffered a serious injury to her pancreas when she slipped while riding a bike on a family holiday in Wales in July 2021. Weeks later she experienced a fever and increased heart rate, followed by more spikes in her temperature before the consultant hepatologist saw Martha on his morning ward round on Sunday August 29. Prof Thompson left the hospital at 3pm, but was phoned at home two hours later by a trainee doctor, who gave an update on Martha's condition. Medical records showed she had deteriorated over the course of the afternoon, and into the early evening, with a drop in her blood pressure, the appearance of a new rash and increases in heart rate, respiratory rate and body temperature. Tribunal chairman Robin Ince noted that by 5pm there were 'several high-risk indicators' as set out in the Nice guidelines relating to sepsis. The duty registrar called Prof Thompson again at 8.30pm because of ongoing concerns over Martha's fever, but she was kept on the ward despite the continued presence of moderate to high-risk indicators and the absence of meaningful clinical improvement. Martha collapsed on August 30 and was moved to intensive care before she was transferred to London's Great Ormond Street Hospital, where she died in the early hours of August 31. Announcing its conclusions on Wednesday, Mr Ince said: 'Professor Thompson has done everything possible to address his failings. 'The tribunal considered that the best way to repair any harm caused by his failings would be for him to continue to provide his specialist expertise at home and abroad. 'To now – some four years after the index event – remove Professor Thompson from practice, even for a short period of time, for one single lapse of judgment in an otherwise exemplary career would, in the tribunal's view, be akin to punishment which is not the role of the MPTS.' Among the 'exceptional circumstances' cited were that there was no allegation or evidence that Prof Thompson either caused or contributed to Martha's death. There were also systemic failings regarding how the ward functioned at the time with regard to referrals to the paediatric intensive care unit, said the tribunal. Mr Ince said: 'A sufficiently clear message has already been sent to the profession and to the public – that even such an experienced doctor as Professor Thompson could still make serious errors of clinical judgment for which he will be called to account. 'The public would be aware that this finding would remain a stain on Professor Thompson's reputation for the rest of his life.' At a 2022 inquest into her death, a coroner ruled that Martha would most likely have survived if doctors had identified the warning signs and transferred her to intensive care earlier. Martha's mother, Merope Mills, an editor at The Guardian, said she and her husband, Paul Laity, raised concerns about Martha's deteriorating health a number of times but these were not acted on. The couple later successfully campaigned for Martha's Rule to give patients, families and carers the chance to easily request a second opinion from a senior doctor in the same hospital in the event of a suspected deterioration or serious concern. Giving evidence, Prof Thompson told the MPTS hearing that he no longer provided in-patient care because he began to 'doubt my own judgment' after the tragic events. He said he felt 'deep remorse' for Martha's death but did not believe he made any errors in her case, as he denied all the allegations brought by the General Medical Council (GMC). The tribunal heard he had since completed a training course relating to the management of sepsis and a deteriorating child in paediatric care. His barrister, Ben Rich, said Prof Thompson has been a dedicated doctor and specialist for nearly 40 years and had never previously been investigated by a regulator. He said he had a reputation as a 'hard-working and outstanding clinician and researcher, who has an international reputation as one of the leading paediatric liver specialists in the world'. Mr Rich urged the tribunal members to impose an order of conditions involving supervision on Prof Thompson's registration, but the panel disagreed and said such a measure would be 'unnecessary and artificial', as they opted to take no further action. Christopher Rose, for the GMC, said that Prof Thompson should be suspended to send a message to the wider public and the wider profession, given the seriousness of the failings found. The tribunal had cleared Prof Thompson of the GMC's claims that he gave 'outdated, misleading' information on Martha's condition to a consultant colleague in the intensive care unit, and that he failed to mention her rash. In ruling his fitness to practise was impaired, Mr Ince said: 'There had been a significant potential risk of harm to Martha and it was appropriate to send a message to the profession as to the importance of following the basic and fundamental principles as set out in good medical practice so as to ensure that the potential risks of an adverse outcome are always taken into account.'
