Surgeon 'lied to patient's family'

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1215379,00.html

 

Surgeon 'lied to patient's family'

 

James Meikle, health correspondent

Thursday May 13, 2004

The Guardian

 

A surgeon told a patient's family an operation on her liver had gone well when

she was barely alive and had lost 32 pints of blood during and after surgery, a

court was told yesterday.

Steven Walker, also turned his back on the patient during surgery to arrange for

pictures to be taken of her liver, the jury at London's Old Bailey heard. He

lied about Dorothy McPhee's condition and the 71-year-old died after the

operation in December 1995, Rebecca Poulet QC said.

 

Mr Walker denies two charges of manslaughter of patients, theft of an operations

register and perverting justice.

 

Mrs Poulet said the surgeon at the Blackpool Victoria hospital had telephoned

Mrs McPhee's husband to suggest the operation had gone well. Mrs McPhee died the

same day.

 

Mr Walker had never carried out such an operation before. The tumour was far

bigger than expected and Mr Walker should not have proceeded with the operation.

Bleeding was catastrophic, the court heard.

 

" A further aspect horrified staff present, which is, that whilst the patient was

bleeding profusely on the operating table, Walker turned his back on the patient

to spend time arranging for a specimen to be photographed _ You may think it

showed a terrible disregard for his patient. "

 

The case continues.

 

 

 

 

 

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