Dr Prickett later told the GMC he made the mistake

Dr Prickett later told the GMC he made the mistake because he was doing three things at once and was under stress at the time.

He claimed he thought Mrs Pearce was another woman, referred to as Mrs X, who was having surgery for a brain tumour.

The doctor told the committee: ‘I made an error, I didn’t mean that error to happen.

‘It is definitely not my normal practice.

I have a lot of time to think about it.

‘It was very stressful.

I had never done this before.

‘I was being left alone to do various things.

I was doing three things at once.

‘I did two out of the three checks but I didn’t make a decision not to check, so many other things were going on.

‘I missed that vital step that I would otherwise take.

‘This has got to be taken in context.

‘

Dr Prickett said he read aloud the name on the forms together with the operating assistant but nobody in the theatre spotted that it was the wrong name.

But he denied claims that his actions on the day were irresponsible.

The GMC heard how the Australian doctor came to the UK in 1996.

The hearing continues and is expected to end later today.

(Fri)
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