Surgeon is suspended over OAP’s death after hernia surgery at Scottish hospital

A surgeon has been suspended from practising over a series of failings in her treatment of an elderly man who died following a hernia operation.

An investigation found Fawzia Ashkanani made a catalogue of “significant” errors and her care of the patient was “inadequate”.

The 81-year-old man, known as Patient A, was admitted to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary in December 2013 for hernia surgery.

The investigation found Miss Ashkanani, a consultant general surgeon, failed to review his medical notes and went ahead with the surgery despite concerns that the man’s other health conditions made it unsafe to do so.

Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary.

She failed to check that the patient was being prescribed the correct medication, did not properly monitor him after the operation and allowed him to leave hospital after just one day despite advice to keep him in.

He had to be readmitted to hospital just 30 minutes later after vomiting and suffering chest pain during the car journey home.

His condition continued to deteriorate and he died just over six weeks later.

The General Medical Council began an investigation into Miss Ashkanani after the man’s son raised concerns with it.

She has now been suspended for four months after a hearing of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) found her fitness to practise was impaired.

MPTS tribunal chairman Richard Tutt said: “Miss Ashkanani has put a patient at unwarranted risk of harm and has brought the medical profession into disrepute.

“Her failings in the treatment of Patient A were significant and many.”

He added: “Miss Ashkanani’s serious misconduct involved risks to patient safety and undermined public confidence in the medical profession.”

Miss Ashkanani left her job in Dumfries in 2016 following 12 years. She is now working as a surgeon in her native Kuwait.

Her lawyer told the hearing that Miss Ashkanani’s misconduct was isolated and should be seen against the background of an otherwise unblemished 35-year career.

NHS Dumfries and Galloway conducted a “significant adverse event review” and complaints investigation following the man’s death in 2014 which identified a number of failings in his care.

The health board was also criticised regarding the case in a report published by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman in 2016.