Gerrard Kaonga
A surgeon in the UK may have harmed up to 100 children in a multitude of botched surgeries on their legs, according to a report.
An independent review looking into the patients of National Health Service (NHS) doctor Yaser Jabbar found that he may have harmed up to 100 children, with at least 32 young people suffering severe harm, chronic pain and potential lifelong deformities.
The investigation reviewed the care of 789 patients who were under Jabbar’s care while he was at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London.
The full findings of the review are set to be presented to the hospital’s trust board on January 29.
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Several young people have reportedly had to undergo further corrective surgery after being treated by Jabbar - who worked at the hospital between June 2017 and September 2023 - which has left some with chronic pain and permanent nerve damage as a result.
Families of the victims have taken issue with the hospital, which called for the independent review, and accused it of a ‘culture of cover-up’ as they previously claimed that reports about the care their children received did not reflect what truly happened.
One worker at the trust condemned the hospital for its response to the scandal and took aim at management for allegedly avoiding taking responsibility and failing to adequately address alleged ‘systemic failures in how staff concerns were handled’.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, they said: “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 told The Times: “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 has not had a legal license to practice medicine in the UK since January 8, 2024.
Lawyers representing families of children said to be victims of Jabbar have said some of the botched surgeries included leg length discrepancies, nerve injuries and one amputation.
Caroline Murgatroyd, of Hudgell Solicitors, said: “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.”
UNILAD has contacted Great Ormond Street Hospital for comment.