‘Bungle’(a.k.a “botched” abortion) … Gbinigie yesterday
By SIMON HUGHES
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2003100539,00.html
(MTTU.COM interprets for you)
A WOMAN suffered horrific internal injuries and nearly died when a consultant gynaecologist botched her abortion, a General Medical Council hearing was told yesterday.
Andrew Gbinigie ruptured her womb and pulled out her right fallopian tube and ovary, a ureter and part of her bowel.
The 20-year-old woman’s life was only saved by emergency surgery from three other consultants, although a kidney had to be removed.
They found a huge tear in her uterus — and the foetus was still present, minus an arm and a leg.
The GMC professional conduct committee heard it was the most badly botched operation that experts had heard of.
And it was Gbinigie’s FOURTH bungled abortion of the day. The Nigerian-trained surgeon was not experienced enough to do the work, it was alleged.
Gbinigie, who qualified in 1978, came to Britain in 1984 and by 1989 was a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
In July 2000 he was suspended from his NHS job at the Wordsley Hospital in Stourbridge, West Midlands, when he was accused of groping female staff.
Four months later he conducted the bungled abortion at the Calthorpe private clinic, Birmingham.
Staff were said to have been horrified as he attempted to remove the 20-week foetus.
Vincent Argent, from Eastbourne Hospital, said in an expert’s report: “The extent of damage suffered by this patient may well be unique in this country.”
The nightmare operation took place on Gbinigie’s first day as a locum.
Vivian Robinson QC, for the GMC, said that the day had begun with a few simple terminations of early foetuses. (babies)
He said: “In these the surgeon uses a machine to suck out the products of conception (the baby’s body) from the uterus.
“After 15 weeks the products (baby’s head) have to be crushed with forceps then withdrawn using the forceps.”
Gbinigie, he said, “appeared to encounter problems with some of the later gestations”.
(Gestations?)
1 : the carrying of young in the uterus : PREGNANCY
2 : conception and development especially in the mind
He left parts of foetuses, including skulls and spines, inside three women, but then managed to remove them.
At lunchtime, clinic boss Tracey Allsopp asked him if he felt comfortable continuing and he assured her he did.
His next patient was a woman identified to the hearing as Miss A.
Mr Robinson said the doctor used forceps to crush the foetus (the baby’s head).
While taking out the foetus Gbinigie removed a piece of white tissue which the experienced theatre sister did not recognise.
She asked him what it was and he “appeared to study it but did not answer”. In fact it was an ovary.
At this point, Mr Robinson said, an experienced gynaecologist should have realised he had ripped the uterus and called a halt.
Gbinigie allegedly ploughed recklessly on, severing the right ureter — the tube connecting the bladder and right kidney.
The sister was then shocked to see him remove a piece of bowel and called a halt to the operation.
She had Miss A rushed to Birmingham Women’s Hospital.
Mr Robinson said: “Organs had been torn off with what would have required considerable force. Had it not been for the efforts of three consultants this patient would have died.”
Single mum Miss A said that on arrival at the clinic she was told she was lucky because her consultant was experienced in late pregnancies.
She described waking up in an ambulance in excruciating pain. Miss A said: “I have been told not to have another baby.”
The GMC heard that bosses at the clinic had failed to obtain a reference for Gbinigie after he said he did not want his employers knowing he was carrying out private work.
In fact he had resigned from the Wordsley before an inquiry could be held into the sexual harassment allegations.
A midwife claimed he locked her in his office and touched her breast. A nurse said he twice tried to kiss her.
Gbinigie, of Barnt Green, Birmingham, denies serious professional misconduct.
The London hearing continues.