A doctor whose botched surgery on a cancer patient at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary led to her losing her breast has had his suspension continued after he failed to attend a hearing.
Dr Mutasim Mohammed, who was not a breast surgeon, was suspended from practising medicine for two years after the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) ruled that he was not competent enough to perform the specialist operation.
The watchdog heard that despite cutting out twice the amount of breast tissue required for the operation, Dr Mohammed failed to remove the cancerous growth itself.
Following his failure, the woman had to endure a second operation by another surgeon, and as a result was left with a breast so deformed that it was later removed.
Dr Mohammed was due to appear before a hearing last Thursday, and despite advising the MPTS he was “hoping” to attend, failed to turn up or send a solicitor on his behalf.
If he had attended and been successful in making his case, Dr Mohammed would have had the suspension lifted by January 11.
However, the panel decided to extend his suspension for another three months to protect patients and to allow the surgeon to attend a future hearing.
Their report said: “The panel notes that Dr Mohammed is currently suspended and in that regard the panel is satisfied that the public interest is protected.
“The panel considers that it would not be fair to proceed with this case in Dr Mohammed’s absence and that he should be given the opportunity to make representations in relation to his case in person.”
A previous tribunal hearing in 2012 found the doctor guilty of 10 charges, and the panel heard the woman’s tumour could have been treated by radiotherapy rather than surgery.
Dr Mohammed specialised in colorectal surgery, but was employed at ARI through an agency to provide cover as a general surgeon. He longer works for NHS Grampian.