Harmful Leg Surgeries
A former orthopedic surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London, Yaser Jabbar, is facing serious allegations related to the performance of inappropriate and unnecessary leg surgeries on children.
These surgeries reportedly caused significant harm to multiple young patients, raising concerns about the hospital’s pediatric orthopedic services and the standard of care provided.
In response to the growing concerns raised by both families of patients and hospital staff, GOSH issued a formal apology to the affected patients and their families.
The hospital took proactive measures by requesting the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) to conduct an external review of its pediatric orthopedic services in 2022. This initiative was taken to identify any shortcomings and to ensure such issues do not recur in the future.
A spokesperson for GOSH stated, “In 2022, we asked the Royal College of Surgeons to review our pediatric orthopedic service after concerns were raised by several of our patient families and staff.
As part of this, we are carrying out a review into the care of some of our patients. We have written directly to all patients and their families whose care is being reviewed, so please be assured you would have been contacted if we are looking at your care.”
The hospital clarified that the surgeon at the center of these allegations, Yaser Jabbar, has not been employed at GOSH since 2022. Since his departure, the hospital has prioritized a thorough review of patient care to identify and address any potential issues stemming from his treatments.
“This is a complex task and is taking some time,” the spokesperson added. “If, when reviewing a patient’s care, we find instances of harm, we will contact patients and families again to determine the next steps for them. We are committed to learning from every single patient we treat and to being open and transparent with our families when care falls below the high standards we strive for. Inviting external reviews into our services helps us identify any changes needed to ensure we deliver the very best care for our patients.”
An extensive review of 39 cases involving Jabbar’s surgeries revealed alarming results: 13 children suffered severe harm, nine experienced low to moderate harm, and two cases required further peer evaluation to assess the extent of harm.
The remaining 15 patients showed no signs of harm. Some of the most severely impacted children were left with legs up to 20 cm shorter, suffering from chronic pain that persisted for years. One particularly tragic case resulted in the amputation of a limb.
Further investigations into Jabbar’s treatment history revealed that out of 721 cases, 13 children were confirmed to have suffered severe harm, including the one case of amputation.
The hospital’s commitment to learning from these incidents and making necessary improvements highlights the severity of the situation and the critical need for transparency and accountability within medical institutions.
As GOSH continues its review process, it is determined to take every possible step to prevent such incidents from happening in the future, ensuring that every patient receives the high standard of care they deserve.
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