Consultant is suspended for bid to give toxic chemo drug to cancer patient
A HOSPITAL consultant who went behind the backs of colleagues to offer an experimental drug to a terminally ill cancer patient has been suspended.
Haematologist Dr Finella BritoBabapulle, 63, gave him false hope by saying the untested and highly toxic medicine could cure him, a tribunal heard.
Even after clashing with other staff and being sacked, she wrote to the 84-year- old at his home asking if he would pay for the lymphoma treatment privately.
On another occasion, the doctor contacted a patient with leukaemia via a friend at a bridge club.
In a third case, she crept into the farmhouse of a cancer sufferer, 65, who was in hospital with a rare bone marrow condition, to leave a note on her kitchen table, saying: ‘I’m here for you.’
Police were alerted by a farmhand who saw the lights on and knew the woman was not at home.
The patient was left ‘ deeply distressed’ that the doctor had been inside her home but no formal action was taken, the tribunal heard.
The hearing was also told of a fourth patient, a man with a blood condition, whose clinical notes were not properly updated. This week Brito-Babapulle, a mother of three, was found guilty of misconduct and suspended for nine months for her actions at St Mary’s Hospital in Newport, Isle of Wight.
Her ‘inappropriate treatment’ of the four patients was criticised at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service sitting in Manchester.
Dr Janet Nicholls, chairman of the tribunal, said: ‘Your approach to patients at the end of life was at the aggressive end of the spectrum.
‘You suggest that a doctor either saves patients’ lives or lets them die. You appear to have little time for the concept of palliative care.
‘You allowed your personal beliefs to interfere with your professional judgment. Your conduct caused upset to patients and colleagues.
‘While there was no evidence that the clinical care of particular patients was compromised, your actions had the potential to risk patient safety.’
Brito-Babapulle, of Richmond, South-West London, was appointed as a locum consultant at St Mary’s for four months in August 2013.
But she left after just ten weeks when she argued with colleagues over treatment for cancer patients.
The 84-year- old, known only as Patient A, had undergone six cycles of chemotherapy and paid £8,000 for a private second opinion when Brito-Babapulle took over his care.
She told him she wanted to start a new treatment plan which included Bendamustine, a drug being tested in the US which she had read about online. Claiming it could cure him, she went behind the backs of colleagues to alter his medication.
When he went to the chemotherapy unit and was told the drug was not available on the NHS, BritoBabapulle asked if he would be prepared to pay for it.
Paul Wakerley, barrister for the MPTS, said the treatment could have killed Patient A but he was so convinced by Brito-Babapulle that he said he would go on the drug as he had nothing to lose.
‘The regimen was toxic and could easily have killed Patient A,’ said Mr Wakerley. ‘She didn’t explain the risk it could make him worse with the possibility of not making him much better.’ The man died three months later.
After the hearing, Brito-Babapulle claimed Patient A was only diagnosed with cancer after paying for private treatment in the first place.
‘I was just trying to save the life of an elderly patient with a curable cancer,’ she said.
In 2012, Brito-Babapulle was convicted of harassing her ex-husband, Mark Leyton, also a consultant haematologist, because she felt cheated out of £430,000 in their divorce.
She had waged a smear campaign accusing him of gay affairs and cruising pick-up haunts after their 20-year relationship ended in 2008. Brito-Babapulle was given a twoyear conditional discharge and a five-year restraining order.
‘Aggressive end of the spectrum’