I read the news today of Dr Dhanuson Dharnasena, a training obstetrician who had been brought before the courts on a charge of Female Genital Mutilation.
Dr Dharnasena had been on duty when a lady, who had FGM performed on her at the age of 6, attended the hospital in labour.
This lady's FGM had not been picked up by any of the antenatal team looking after her, as usually such patients are referred to a specialist FGM team to plan the delivery of the baby.
Faced with a woman in labour unable to deliver due to the mutiliation, putting the lives of the mother and baby at risk, Dr Dharnasena cut the lady to allow room for the baby to descend.
After delivery the lady needed to be sutured to stop blood loss from the cut, Dr Dharnasena rang and discussed this with his consultant and following advice sewed up the cut he had made.
It took the jury only 30 minutes to decide this doctor was not guilty of performing FGM and only acting in the patients best interest.
Sadly the General Medical Council felt the need to suspend this doctor from the register.
We need a system where failing or criminal doctors can be picked up and dealt with, but cases like this go to show that the system is very much weighted against the medical profession.
Facing even a trivial complaint is hugely stressful and can destroy doctors careers, health and lives. Suicide rates are higher in doctors facing GMC inquiries (and high in doctors in general).
I hope that Dr Dharnasena has had good support throughout this and is able to continue in a fulfilling career.
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