A mother told today (THURS) of her outrage at bein
A mother told today (THURS) of her outrage at being accused of neglecting her baby daughter by a GP trying to cover up his failure to diagnose pneumonia.
Finola Gowers was visited by social workers at home after Dr Umapati Biswas retaliated for her complaint about his ‘incompetence and negligence.
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Mrs Gowers said she was ‘appalled’ her three-month-old child Madeleine came close to dying because of the doctor’s failures.
She told the General Medical Council: ‘I felt gobsmacked at the thought that someone would think I would neglect my child.
It was a hideous slur on my name.
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Dr Biswas has appeared before the central London hearing accused of serious professional misconduct over his care of baby Madeleine and two other patients.
He saw Mrs Gowers and her daughter on New Years Day 2001 at Dulwich Hospital, the hearing was told.
They had been staying with friends and relatives in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, the previous night but returned to Dulwich because Madeleine not feeding properly.
Mother of two Mrs Gowers said: ‘I explained to him that she was only taking one or two ounces form her bottle and I was worried she might be dehydrated.
‘He examined her chest and said there was nothing wrong with her.
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Dr Biswas also told her it would be all right to fly back to their second home in Hamburg, Germany, the next day, it is claimed.
Mrs Gowers said: ‘I thought flying might make it worse but his response was ”I don’t see why not.
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‘I felt he had been in a bit of a hurry to dismiss me and move on to the next patient.
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She and her husband returned with Madeleine but decided to take her to hospital where she was diagnosed with pneumonia and kept in for six days.
Mrs Gowers later wrote to the General Medical Council, local Dulwich MP Tessa Jowell and the health authority complaining about Dr Biswas.
She said: ‘I am appalled to think we almost came close to losing a small baby because of Dr Biswas’ behaviour.
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But Dr Biswas rejected her claims, saying he had advised her not to fly back to Germany.
Counsel for the GMC, Tom Kark, said: ‘Dr Biswas’ reaction was to strike first.
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The GP contacted the German Embassy on March 1, 2001, and the child protection authorities in Hamburg were called in to investigate.
Mrs Gowers said: ‘The next thing I heard was on March 13 when I received a visit unannounced from the German social services.
‘They asked to see my daughter because Dr Biswas had claimed Madeleine was neglected and dehydrated.
‘I was very surprised to say the least.
I was absolutely outraged.
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The investigation ended when social workers found Madeleine happily playing with her older brother.
Four months later a second patient complained about Dr Biswas’ rude behaviour at his surgery in (144) Grove Lane, Camberwell.
Mother Mrs B said the GP had dismissed her concerns about her seven month-old daughter and failed to make a proper examination on July 11, 2001.
Biswas also refused to prescribe her contraceptive pills and asthma medication, the hearing was told.
She suffered an asthma attack later that day and had to go to hospital.
Waitress Ms C complained he was rude, abrupt and shouted at her to get out of his surgery after she went for a check on her knee injury.
She had been unable to return to work because of swelling caused by being hit by a slow-moving car on March 14, 2002.
Mr Kark told the hearing: ‘He did not examine her and she was told to keep taking painkillers.
‘He was extremely rude and abrupt.
He did give her an illness certificate for ten days but then told her to find another doctor.
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Biswas, still registered at (144) Grove Lane, denies serious professional misconduct.
The hearing continues.
ends
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