Brain tumour patient tells of ‘botched’ surgery
A surgeon facing claims that he harmed dozens of people ‘botched’ a brain tumour operation on patient Jules Rose. A BBC documentary suggests that NHS Tayside failed to stop Professor Muftah Salem Eljamel.
Marathon runner Jules Rose told the programme that she was operated on by Professor Muftah Salem Eljamel, in August 2013, a month after he was placed under supervision due to serious concerns about his work.
She had been diagnosed with a brain tumour and recalled how she was initially told the operation had been a success.
She said: “I remember he had a big smile on his face, and he says, ‘99 per cent removed.’ And I said, ‘Thank you. Just thank you’.”
But Ms Rose said that after the operation she discovered that Prof Eljamel had not removed her tumour at all and had instead removed her entire tear gland. It meant she had to have a second risky operation under Prof Eljamel.
She told the documentary that at no point was she ever told that the surgeon was under supervision or there were concerns about him.
She said: “For NHS Tayside to allow this surgeon, who had blatantly made a mistake the first time, to allow him to perform another complex operation is unthinkable. It’s not acceptable.
“He needs to be held to account for what he’s done, and NHS Tayside, because they’ve allowed this as well.”
Brian Mcconnachie QC, the former head of high court prosecutions at the Crown Office, told the programme that Prof Eljamel could face criminal action.