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Doctor 'hastened babies' deaths' Doctor 'hastened babies' deaths'
(20 minutes later)
A hospital doctor gave a massive dose of a paralysing drug to two terminally ill babies, hastening their deaths, medical watchdogs have been told. A doctor's administration of drugs hastened the deaths of two terminally ill babies and was "tantamount to euthanasia", an inquiry has heard.
Consultant neonatologist Michael Munro gave 23 times the normal dose of muscle relaxant Pancuronium to the children at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital. Consultant neonatologist Michael Munro, 41, gave 23 times the normal dose of a muscle relaxant at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, medical watchdogs were told.
It was an act "tantamount to euthanasia", the General Medical Council (GMC) was told. The General Medical Council (GMC) fitness to practise panel heard the doctor failed to record his actions.
Dr Munro denies his conduct was below standard, dishonest or inappropriate.Dr Munro denies his conduct was below standard, dishonest or inappropriate.
Dr Munro was working in the neonatal unit of Aberdeen Maternity Hospital on 5 December, 2005, when a child - known only as Baby X - was born more than three months premature.
The panel heard that the child suffered a brain haemorrhage and the decision was taken to withdraw treatment after its condition worsened.
'Finds acceptable'
On 20 December, the baby's breathing tube was removed and doctors began a course of morphine to ease the child's suffering.
As Baby X became weak it began to struggle to breathe. A normal consequence of treatment withdrawal, the condition is known as agonal gasping.
Dr Munro told Baby X's parents he could give the child a drug but "it was on the verge of what society finds acceptable", the hearing was told.
He then injected the child with 2,000mg of the drug which, he admits, hastened the death of Baby X.
Colleagues raised doubts about the treatment and an investigation was launched into the doctor's actions.
Despite telling investigators he had never before administered Pancuronium, the inquiry discovered he had injected a second child with the muscle relaxant six months earlier.
'Death inevitable'
Outlining the case for the GMC, Andrew Long said: "Dr Munro administered a muscle relaxant drug called Pancuronium to both babies which stopped them breathing and hastened their death.
"These primary facts are admitted and indeed Dr Munro admits his conduct was outside accepted professional practice.
"But Dr Munro does not accept it was inappropriate, contrary to guidelines or below the standard expected of a medical practitioner.
"The GMC assert it was all of these things and tantamount to a form of euthanasia even though death was inevitable."
The hearing in Manchester, which began on Thursday, continues.The hearing in Manchester, which began on Thursday, continues.