A surgeon in the UK has reportedly been involved in up to 100 cases of harmed children due to numerous severely flawed surgeries on their legs, as indicated in a recent report.
An independent examination of NHS doctor Yaser Jabbar’s patients revealed that up to 100 children might have been harmed, with at least 32 suffering significant harm, enduring chronic pain, and potentially facing lifelong deformities.
The review evaluated the medical care of 789 children who were under Jabbar’s care during his tenure at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London.
The comprehensive findings of this investigation will be presented to the hospital’s trust board on January 29.
Several young patients have had to seek additional corrective operations following treatment by Jabbar, who served at the hospital from June 2017 until September 2023. These procedures have resulted in some children experiencing chronic pain and lasting nerve damage.
The families affected have expressed dissatisfaction with the hospital, which initiated the independent review, and have accused it of a ‘culture of cover-up’, arguing that previous reports did not accurately reflect their children’s care experiences.
An employee from the trust criticized the hospital’s response to the unfolding scandal, particularly targeting management for allegedly dodging accountability and failing to properly address claimed ‘systemic failures in handling staff concerns’.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, the employee stated: “They have focused everything on the department and one rogue surgeon. But it was their failure to respond to concerns. Even when the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) report came out, what they chose to do was persecute the consultants that were still there… The RCS report criticized both the executive team and senior management. I’ve seen no change in that. Those people are still in post.”
Great Ormond Street Hospital responded to The Times, saying: “We are deeply sorry to all the children, young people, and their families who have been affected by the actions of a surgeon working at GOSH between 2017 and 2022. We have reviewed the care of every single child involved, and our report will be shared with families next month before it is made public.”
Jabbar lost his legal license to practice medicine in the UK on January 8, 2024.
Lawyers representing the families of the affected children have reported instances of botched surgeries, which include leg length discrepancies, nerve damage, and even one amputation.
Caroline Murgatroyd from Hudgell Solicitors commented: “We have had a significant number of families come forward to seek advice and to share their concerns since the scale of this investigation was made public at the weekend. What’s particularly shocking is the sheer number of children affected, and the fact that this is a world-renowned hospital, and one which people had complete faith and trust in.”
Great Ormond Street Hospital has been reached out to for additional comment.