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William Cressey: meningitis death doctor fit to practise | William Cressey: meningitis death doctor fit to practise |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A consultant, who failed to spot that a 10-year-old boy who later died from meningitis was gravely ill, remains fit to practise, a panel has ruled. | A consultant, who failed to spot that a 10-year-old boy who later died from meningitis was gravely ill, remains fit to practise, a panel has ruled. |
William Cressey was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital in February 2005. | William Cressey was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital in February 2005. |
He was initially refused antibiotics and sent home, but his condition worsened, and he died on 1 March. | He was initially refused antibiotics and sent home, but his condition worsened, and he died on 1 March. |
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service Panel has now determined that Dr Malik Mahmood Alam's fitness to practice is not impaired. | The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service Panel has now determined that Dr Malik Mahmood Alam's fitness to practice is not impaired. |
It did issue a formal warning. | It did issue a formal warning. |
This will remain on the list of Registered Medical Practitioners for five years and will be disclosed to any person inquiring about his fitness to practise history. | |
William's mother, Cheryl Cressey, said her son was in excruciating pain when she took him to hospital on 27 February 2005, but was told that he was suffering from a migraine. | William's mother, Cheryl Cressey, said her son was in excruciating pain when she took him to hospital on 27 February 2005, but was told that he was suffering from a migraine. |
Her repeated requests for a blood test and antibiotics were refused, and he was discharged the following day. | Her repeated requests for a blood test and antibiotics were refused, and he was discharged the following day. |
Soon afterwards, he collapsed and was returned to hospital, but had a seizure, went into a coma and died. | |
An inquest was held in 2009, which recorded a narrative verdict. | An inquest was held in 2009, which recorded a narrative verdict. |
Coroner David Mitford said the death was due to "natural causes to which a delay in giving antibiotic treatment for meningitis may have contributed". | Coroner David Mitford said the death was due to "natural causes to which a delay in giving antibiotic treatment for meningitis may have contributed". |
In March 2012, the General Medical Council (GMC) found that Dr Alam, the consultant paediatrician responsible for his care, had made a series of failings. | |
'Isolated event' | 'Isolated event' |
These included not examining William properly, failing to devise an adequate care plan, administer antibiotics, or get him to Newcastle's intensive care unit quickly. | |
The GMC reserved a decision on his fitness to practise but the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service Panel, which became responsible for such cases in June, has now ruled that it was not impaired. | The GMC reserved a decision on his fitness to practise but the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service Panel, which became responsible for such cases in June, has now ruled that it was not impaired. |
It said in a statement: "The panel is satisfied that you have significant insight into your failings in this case. | It said in a statement: "The panel is satisfied that you have significant insight into your failings in this case. |
"It has borne in mind this insight, the steps you have taken to remedy matters, and the fact that this case relates to a single isolated event in a long, otherwise unblemished career. | "It has borne in mind this insight, the steps you have taken to remedy matters, and the fact that this case relates to a single isolated event in a long, otherwise unblemished career. |
"In all of the circumstances, the panel has determined that your fitness to practise is not impaired by reason of your misconduct." | "In all of the circumstances, the panel has determined that your fitness to practise is not impaired by reason of your misconduct." |
The panel went on to issue a formal warning and said: "This conduct does not meet with the standards required of a doctor. | The panel went on to issue a formal warning and said: "This conduct does not meet with the standards required of a doctor. |
"It risks bringing the profession into disrepute and it must not be repeated. | "It risks bringing the profession into disrepute and it must not be repeated. |
"Whilst this failing in itself is not so serious as to require any restriction on your registration, it is necessary in response to issue this formal warning." | "Whilst this failing in itself is not so serious as to require any restriction on your registration, it is necessary in response to issue this formal warning." |
Darlington Memorial Hospital said in a statement: "Following the inquest and completion of the legal process the trust wrote to apologise to Mrs Cressey that William did not receive our usual high standard of care. | |
"Rare events such as these do give rise to full and detailed consideration by the trust of its policies and procedures and are used as a learning tool to improve standards of care. | |
"The trust extends its full sympathy to Mrs Cressey and to her family for their loss." | |
Mrs Cressey said: "My heart is broken." |
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