A doctor accused of calling social services in on
A doctor accused of calling social services in on a mother in revenge for her complaint against him claimed today (THURS) he was worried about her baby.
GP Umapati Biswas said he warned Finola Gowers not to take her three month-old daughter on a plane if she did not get better.
But Mrs Gowers said the doctor gave the OK to fly to Germany and accused him of failing to diagnose the child with pneumonia.
He is now accused of serious professional misconduct over his care of baby Madeleine Gowers and his rude behaviour towards two other patients.
Dr Biswas saw Mrs Gowers and her daughter on New Years Day 2001 at Dulwich Hospital after Madeleine began refusing her milk, the hearing was told.
Dr Biswas said: ‘The main concern was the child was not feeding.
She was not very happy looking because of the lack of fluid.
‘She was telling me she wanted to go back to Germany the next day.
‘I said it entirely depends on how the baby was tomorrow.
If it is better, yes, you can.
‘If it is not, you have to decide what to do.
‘
Mrs Gowers, who had homes in Dulwich and Hamburg, wrote to the General Medical Council about Dr Biswas after Madeleine was diagnosed with pneumonia a day after the flight.
Dr Biswas said he had done everything he could and became worried about the mother and her baby.
He said he tried to get social security to check on the baby through the proper channels but contacted the German Embassy after a series of delays.
The GP said: ‘I said I had seen a baby in London and I was a bit concerned about the baby.
‘I gave an instruction to the mother but the mother goes to Germany the following day and the child ends up in hospital.
‘I was getting worried about the child and the mother.
‘
Dr Biswas told the General Medical Council his work was ‘very stressful’ because of the minor complaints of patients.
‘It is becoming dangerous.
You have to fulfil more demands than just medicine.
‘They want sick notes and they want medicines, whatever they like.
These are very common.
‘
Biswas, still registered at 144 Grove Lane, denies serious professional misconduct.
The hearing continues.
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