9:07am Thursday 11th March 2010
A SURGEON who removed a baby’s bladder by mistake has been allowed to continue working — but will have to follow strict rules for the next 12 months.
Pierina Kapur carried out the operation on a six-week-old girl from Manchester at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital in October, 2008.
She had become a visiting paediatric surgical consultant at the Royal Bolton Hospital in the summer of 2008. She continued to work there and in Manchester after the incident.
The matter was referred to the General Medical Council (GMC) for investigation and conditions were imposed on Miss Kapur in March, 2009, including supervision by a consultant.
The child, who is now nearly 18-months-old, will have to use a catheter for the rest of her life and faces further surgery. A seven-day fitness to practice hearing found the 43-year-old surgeon’s actions went beyond mere negligence and crossed the threshold to misconduct.
The case resumed yesterday when the GMC decided to impose conditions on Miss Kapur’s work for the next year.
The panel said her blunder did not merit being struck off the medical register and that patients should not be “deprived” of her services.
The panel told her: “This period reflects the severity of the matters found proved but will permit you to undertake a phased return to independent practice.”
The 10 conditions include: l Not carrying out hernia repair operations without the direct supervision by a consultant paediatric surgeon until the trust’s medical director says she is safe to.
l Keeping a log of every case involving a hernia repair and giving a copy to the GMC every three months.
The GMC will hold another hearing to review the case before the 12 month period expires, to see if further action is needed.
Heather Edwards, head of communications at the Royal Bolton Hospital, said: “Miss Kapur is employed by Central Manchester University Hospitals and comes to the Royal Bolton Hospital as part of their outreach service.
“It will be for them to ensure that she adheres to the conditions set by the GMC. We will follow Central Manchester’s guidance on this.”
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