http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/scotland.cfm?id=101506&keyword=kate%20foster
When routine operation ended in tragedy
Kate
Foster
(kfoster@scotsman.com)
ALEX Cant had been suffering from problems with his gall
bladder for some time. It came as some relief to the pensioner when he finally
was admitted to Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline for an operation.
The routine procedure was a success. A few days later the
79-year-old was released from hospital, and all seemed well.
But two months after the procedure, he fell ill with
inflammation of the liver. He was rushed to the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy,
where he died.
His widow Robina was shocked to discover that tests showed he
had died from hepatitis B, a blood-borne viral infection which causes
inflammation of the liver.
All the more so, because routine tests carried out on her
husband before the operation had proved negative.
Mrs Cant, still coming to terms with the tragedy, is
reluctant to discuss the details of her husband’s illness and death. Speaking
yesterday at her home in Dunfermline, she said all she wants now is an
explanation from Fife Health Board about why her husband became infected with
hepatitis B despite strict protocols to prevent health workers passing the
virus on to patients.
Mrs Cant said: "We have been promised a full and open
investigation. The family will make sure there are no cover-ups. I have been
very upset by the whole thing and all I really want now is to find out exactly
why this has happened."
Across the town, Riaz Mohammed, a surgeon of 27 years’
experience and unquestioned reputation, is asking the same questions. He is
said to be stunned.
As a health worker coming into regular contact with patients’
blood, he was subject to vaccination, regular boosters and screening for
blood-borne infections. That includes hepatitis B.
Riaz Mohammed followed all procedures and thought he was
clear. He was wrong, raising serious questions about whether there are
shortcomings in the system, which could have ramifications for thousands of
patients.
Sources close to Riaz Mohammed have indicated that the
experienced doctor and family man is hardly likely to have contracted the
infection through means other than his occupation. In other words, from a
patient he was operating upon.
As he struggles with the side-effects of the virus, he is
also dealing with the "devastating" news that an elderly patient died
after contracting the infection from him.
Riaz Mohammed said in a statement released to The Scotsman
last night: "My sympathy goes to the family of the patient who died and I
regret the distress that has been caused to any of my patients.
"I have complied fully with all protocols relating to
testing for and immunisation against hepatitis B and I am utterly devastated to
find myself in this terrible and totally unexpected situation.
"The well-being of patients has always been my principal
concern and, during my 27 years as a surgeon, I have done everything within my
power to act in their best interests."
He added: "The news that I had somehow become infected,
in spite of compliance with the trust’s testing and immunisation procedures,
came as a dreadful shock to me. I have not carried out any further operations,
and I am seeking assistance from occupational health specialists so that my own
health and treatment needs can be assessed.
"In the meantime, I would like to thank my family,
friends and colleagues who have provided me with support at this very difficult
time."
Those who know Riaz Mohammed have described him as
"genuine and decent".
One friend, who did not want to be named, said: "He is
not a negligent doctor. His 27 years’ experience show that. He has not taken
risks with his own health. He is a dedicated surgeon who has been operating in
Scotland for many years. He has followed all the procedures and he is
devastated by this. How he caught the virus is not known but he has followed
all the protocols."
Now Fife Health Board must rule out the possibility that
other patients treated by Riaz Mohammed have not also become infected with the
virus.
It has admitted there is a "small chance" that 350
people treated by Riaz Mohammed between January and June last year may be at
risk.
But the implications of the tragedy have raised a question
mark over the guidelines set down by the Scottish executive aimed to prevent
cross-infection between healthcare workers and patients.
A Scottish executive spokesman said: "We have strict
guidelines further strengthened in June last year. We believe that at the
moment this is a very rare situation. But we will be ensuring that the advisory
group on hepatitis will be reviewing this particular case."
But SNP health spokeswoman, Nicola Sturgeon, warned that
guidelines should be closely scrutinised.
"There needs to be a long, hard look at this and a full
investigation," she said.