A SHAMED north-east cancer surgeon who lied to a patient that he had successfully removed her brain tumour has been struck off for “deplorable” misconduct.
Emmanuel Labram told the woman she did not need further treatment for two years after a failed operation at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in September 2008. Former NHS Grampian employee Mr Labram, of Maryculter, was found to have misled the woman, known as Patient A, by repeatedly assuring her the procedure had been a success.
He also lied to colleagues and forged documents to continue the deception. By the time it emerged in 2010 that the tumour had not been fully removed, it was inoperable. Yesterday, a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service hearing in Manchester, chaired by Dr Howard Freeman, ruled Labram may have genuinely believed he had removed the lesion.
But the panel also found the neurosurgeon guilty of dishonest and misleading conduct for trying to cover his tracks when he realised this was not the case.
A patients’ group welcomed the outcome yesterday – but one man who was operated on by Mr Labram was shocked to hear he had been struck off. At the hearing, Dr Freeman said: “Mr Labram had acted in a dishonest and misleading manner in his care of Patient A over a period of two years.
“His conduct had included the deliberate alteration of a pathology report on two occasions, the misrepresentation of an MRI report in a letter to another practitioner and dishonest and misleading representations and correspondence to Patient A and her GP.
“Cumulatively, these serious breaches demonstrate conduct that falls far below the standards expected of all registered medical practitioners and which, in the panel’s judgment, is capable of undermining public confidence in the profession and bringing the profession into disrepute.
“The panel is of the view that Mr Labram’s behaviour would be regarded as deplorable by fellow practitioners and by the public.”
Mr Labram, who did not attend the professional disciplinary hearing, was then struck off the General Medical Council’s register of doctors.
His name will be erased from the list in 28 days, subject to his legal right of appeal, although the panel also imposed an immediate order of suspension so he cannot work in the meantime.
Panel chairman Dr Howard Freeman said: “The panel considers that Mr Labram’s misconduct put Patient A at serious risk of harm, he abused his position of trust and he violated Patient A’s rights.
“The panel is satisfied that Mr Labram’s conduct constitutes a very serious departure from the fundamental tenets of good medical practice.
“Whilst the panel accepts that Mr Labram’s misconduct relates to a single episode, it is concerned that his dishonest behaviour was persistent and covered up.
“The panel is also concerned that Mr Labram denied any wrong-doing and he maintained throughout the NHS Grampian investigation that his operative management and probity were not deficient.”
Dr Freeman said the panel had taken into account Labram’s “long and distinguished career”, but found his misconduct was so serious that it was “fundamentally incompatible” with him continuing to work as a doctor.
He said: “Although it related to one patient, Mr Labram’s subsequent serial dishonesty coupled with acts of forgery are matters the panel regards as extremely serious.
“The panel is of the view that the public interest requires that it be made clear to Mr Labram and the profession that his behaviour is unacceptable.”
An NHS Grampian spokeswoman would only comment to say that Mr Labram was “no longer an employee of NHS Grampian”.
Margaret Watt, chairwoman of Scotland Patients’ Association, said she believed the panel had made the right decision. She added: “I think it is wonderful that they found in favour of the patient in this case. Lying to the patient only created more problems for her.”
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