Hudgell Solicitors are representing the families of a number of children treated by surgeon Mr Yaser Jabbar over a number of years at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Statement from solicitor Caroline Murgatroyd, of Hudgell Solicitors
Some of our clients have been contacted with details of initial findings of the Royal College of Surgeons’ (RCS) reviews of their medical records, and they paint a very worrying picture of the treatment provided to children by Mr Yaser Jabbar.
They outline unacceptable assessments, examinations, clinical decision-making, and treatments of patients, poor communication with families with regards to seeking their consent for treatments and procedures, as well as failures to make it clear what kind of complications children could face after undergoing surgery.
There are also references to children being subjected to surgeries which the RCS review panel could see no justification for, with children undergoing procedures which brought them no clear benefit. The findings so far have been shocking to read and have been very upsetting for our clients.
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In one particular case, a child underwent an amputation after having been put through a series of procedures. In this case, the review panel found the amputation could possibly have been avoided with a different route of treatment.
Children have suffered leg length discrepancies following inappropriate and unnecessary surgeries which will require further and prolonged treatment, and nerve injuries causing ongoing pain.
There is also a lack of documentation on the decision-making process, or about discussing cases with consultant colleagues or the families of children themselves.
The initial findings we have seen indicate there may have been serious failures in care to many patients, over a number of years, and certainly at this stage, from the cases we have seen details on, it appears the hospital may be facing many claims for compensation.
One of the reports I have seen states that, as the RCS panel could not understand most of the decision-making in the case, they assumed inadequate experience and training, and questioned Mr Jabbar’s understanding of the management and use of particular treatments.
I think initially people may have been reluctant to seek legal help until the full investigation, which is ongoing, is completed.
However, I’d now encourage people to contact us if their children were under the care of this surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital, especially if they have concerns over treatments, surgeries, and a lack of consultation and understanding of what was being done.