A consultant surgeon in London has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for manslaughter through gross negligence of a patient, reports the Guardian.
James Hughes, who was 67, had attended a private hospital in London for knee surgery. The operation was a success, but while he was in recovery he complained of abdominal pains, and was transferred to the care of consultant David Sellu.
Mr Sellu apparently suspected that Mr Hughes had a perforated bowel, which is a potentially life threatening condition. However, he did not act quickly enough to carry out the appropriate investigations and treatment, and Mr Hughes died a few days later.
The judge acknowledged that there was a risk Mr Hughes would have died even if he had received corrective surgery at an earlier stage, but the risk would have been much lower. Mr Hughes’ chances of surviving decreased the longer he was left waiting for treatment.
Elizabeth Joslin, a specialist lawyer for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "David Sellu's lack of care fell far below the expected standard, with terrible consequences.
"Prosecution of doctors for gross negligence manslaughter is rare and the threshold for criminal prosecution is high, but this doctor's actions were not mistakes or errors of judgement, but negligence so serious that he has now been convicted of a criminal offence.
"Our thoughts are with the family of Mr Hughes."
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