|
You are in: England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wednesday, 21 August, 2002, 15:05 GMT 16:05 UK
Doctor 'left patient to die'
A man was left to die after a GP told his relatives "you're wasting my time", a medical tribunal has been told.
Dr Abiodun Kazeem refused to admit Clifford Lucas, 64, to hospital in Liverpool despite his family's pleas, the General Medical Council (GMC) heard on Wednesday.
The hearing was also told Dr Kazeem declined to take Mr Lucas's blood pressure, pulse, or listen to his chest during the home visit in Whiston, Liverpool.
Mr Lucas - who was suffering suspected influenza - died two hours after the visit by Dr Kazeem, who has been charged with serious professional misconduct.
At the hearing in Manchester Dr Kazeem, now living in Devon, was accused of failing to carry out a proper examination of Mr Lucas in February 2000.
The GP, of Woodville Road, Torquay, was also charged with failing to document Mr Lucas's medical records.
Dr Kazeem went to Mr Lucas's house several hours after another GP from his former practice - the Whiston Health Centre in Old Colliery Road, Whiston - visited and said the patient was suffering from influenza.
Mr Lucas's eyes were said to be glazed, wide and unfocused. His breathing was noisy, he was gasping and he had a temperature and was sweating profusely.
'Cursory examination'
The hearing was also told Mr Lucas could not move his legs, hold his head up or co-ordinate his hands.
Despite this, the GMC was told, Dr Kazeem failed to carry out a proper examination.
Jeremy Roussac, counsel for the GMC, said: "The examination was extreme - no blood pressure, pulse, or chest examination was taken. It was a very cursory examination indeed."
The inquiry heard how, when asked on a number of occasions why he was not taking Mr Lucas to hospital, Dr Kazeem told family members "you are wasting my time and the hospital's time."
Heart attack
Mr Lucas was found dead in his bed by his wife two hours after the doctor's visit.
A post mortem examination showed he died of a heart attack with evidence of fluid retention in his lungs.
Mr Roussac said: "The defendant in his statement indicated that the deceased was talking coherently, aching all over, noting that there was full movement in all his limbs, but there were no notes of consultation."
He accused Dr Kazeem of "displaying a serious lack of insight and clinical judgement."
Dr Kazeem denies serious professional misconduct. The hearing continues.
|
Internet links:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
Top England stories now:
Links to more England stories are at the foot of the page.
|
E-mail this story to a friend |
Links to more England stories |
No comments:
Post a Comment