Breast cancer surgeon cleared of professional misconduct

A breast cancer surgeon whose 40-year-old patient had her diagnosis delayed by 10 months has been cleared of professional misconduct at a Medical Council fitness-to-practise inquiry today. The doctor, who was unnamed by direction of the Medical Council, had been cleared of failing to consider adequately or at all his patient’s condition, failing to carry out an adequate examination, failing to refer her for specialist review and failing to arrange adequate follow up. He was also cleared of carrying out an ultrasound without being qualified. Questioned this morning on whether Dr C should have sent Ms K for a mammogram after her first visit, Dr B said “there would be very few surgeons who would have done anything differently with the resources available”. (Times) >