Doctor convicted of manslaughter can return to unrestricted practice

Hadiza Bawa-garba has won right to return to practice

A doctor who received a suspended jail sentence over the death of a six-year-old boy can return to unrestricted practice, a medical tribunal has ruled.

Dr Hadiza Bawa-garba returned to work last November for the first time in five years after a raft of conditions were imposed on her registration.

In November 2015 a jury convicted her of gross negligence manslaughter in her treatment of Jack Adcock, who developed sepsis and died of cardiac arrest at Leicester Royal Infirmary in February 2011.

A month later she was sentenced to two years in jail, suspended for the same period.

Yesterday, she was informed at a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) hearing there were no longer any outstanding concerns over her clinical practice and it was not in the public interest to maintain the conditions.

Among her failures in Jack's treatment were making an incorrect diagnosis of gastroenteritis on initial examination of the youngster – who had Down's syndrome and a heart condition – and not acting on a clinical reading which "ought to have been a clear indicator".

The doctor was "on the cusp" of becoming a consultant before the incident, as a specialist registrar.

Dr Bawa-garba was barred from practice for 12 months before the General Medical Council (GMC) took the case to the High Court to appeal against the sanction, saying it was "not sufficient", and Dr Bawa-garba was struck off in January 2018.

The MPTS has now decided her fitness to practise is no longer impaired after it heard evidence about how she had complied with various supervision conditions after a 12-month suspension.

Tribunal chair Sharmistha Michaels said: "The tribunal was satisfied that the evidence and testimonials provided on behalf of Dr Bawa-garba all spoke to her attitude, knowledge and skills as a doctor.

"Those directly involved in supervising Dr Bawa-garba had commented on her competency and skills.”.