Healthy lung op doctor is axed
Hospital’s pledge after angry patient says surgeon didn’t wait for test results
A surgeon accused of removing a dad’s healthy lung has been suspended and a major investigation launched at the NHS hospital where he works.
The Sunday Mail last week revealed claims that disgraced Mohammed Asif carried out the operation without waiting for crucial test results.
Patient Brian Connolly, 55, who has been left seriously ill, was later told there was no cancer in the vital organ.
Senior managers at the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in Clydebank have now relieved Asif of his duties while it carries out an independent, in- depth review of the incident.
The hospital said: “We immediately launched an investigation after receiving a complaint from a patient about their treatment.
“Given the very serious nature of the complaint raised, a member of staff has been suspended while this investigation is carried out and will not see or treat patients during this time.
“NHS Golden Jubilee is dedicated to providing safe, effective and personcentred care for our patients.
“The quality and experience of care for our patients is paramount and showing positive values and behaviours towards patients, families and staff is core to our organisation.
“As an NHS board, we have robust policies and procedures including well- established patient safety, staff and clinical governance processes.”
We previously told how Asif was allowed to stay in hisis job despite two sexually motivated offences against women at the Golden Jubilee.
Kitchen fitter Brian, fromm Dalmarnock, first attended an appointment with the surgeon in July after coughing up blood a few months earlier.
He had been told by his doctor there were potential issues with both of his lungs and that the result of a second bronchoscopy was needed to determine whether there was cancer in his left lung. But he claims Asif went ahead and booked him in for surgery after insisting he didn’t need to see the results.
The dad- of- two said: “The medical director at the Golden Jubilee, Mark MacGregor, called me personally after my story was published in the Sunday Mail.
“I thought he seemed like a good guy. He started off by apologising and that was the first time anyone has done that.
“He assured me there was going to be a proper investigation with independent people brought in to find out what had happened.
“I am really concerned now that the real problem has been in my other lung and I haven’t got one to fall back on.”
Brian has described his devastation at being told there was not a cancerous growth in the lung that was removed.
The investigation into Asif is likely to take several months and is expected to involve input from a thoracic surgeon from another health board.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman chaired a meeting at the Golden Jubilee that ratified Asif ’s appointment in 2011 despite questions over his experience.
Monica Lennon, Scottish Labour’s health spokeswoman, said: “Thanks to the courage of Brian Connolly and the intervention of the Sunday Mail, a probe is now under way.
“The safety of patients should always be the top priority of the NHS and lessons must be drawn from this.”