Surgeon allowed to practice under supervision

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After two fatal errors, Acton man "still fit to be a surgeon"

Hurais Syed, a surgeon who made two fatal errors which left his patients dead on the operating table, has been told by the General Medical Council that he can continue practicing.

Mr Syed, of Princes Avenue, Acton, trained in Pakistan but was not qualified as a consultant urologist in the UK. 

It was his lack of knowledge which resulted in mistakes and which led to the deaths of 67 year old John Hetherington and 78 year old Gladys Allen back in 2000 whilst Mr Syed was working in a hospital in Dewsbury, Yorkshire.

Despite his two fatal errors, the Chairman of General Medical Council, Paddy Conway told Mr Syed that he did have a future in urology but ruled that he must work under supervision for the next two years.

Mr Syed will begin working with a mentor with immediate effect and his surgery will be limited to minor procedures.

Mr Syed was suspended in 2000 after John Hetherington, suffered massive post-operative bleeding following an operation to remove a cancerous kidney. Gladys Allen, also bled to death following an identical operation two months earlier.  During the subsequent court trial, Mr Syed was cleared of manslaughter although he admitted failing to keep accurate patient records and using inappropriate surgical techniques.

February 22, 2006