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Consultant in Baby P case banned
Sophie Goodchild27.11.08
THE hospital consultant at the centre of the Baby P scandal has been banned from practising, the General Medical Council announced today.
Dr Sabah Al-Zayat failed to carry out a full examination of the toddler, who died two days later after suffering months of abuse from his mother, her boyfriend and a lodger, because the boy was "miserable and cranky".
A post-mortem examination revealed injuries including a broken back and eight broken ribs, which were understood to have been inflicted before Dr Al-Zayat saw the baby.
After the case came to light, Dr Al-Zayyat of Ilford had her contract with Great Ormond Street Hospital - responsible for child services in Haringey - terminated and she was banned from working unsupervised.
The GMC has now suspended her registration. The decision was made in private last Friday but only made public today. It will be reconsidered in February.
The handling of the case has attracted widespread condemnation after it emerged that a string of social workers and doctors failed to spot that the 17-month-old was the victim of abuse.
Consultant paediatrician Dr Al-Zayat qualified in Pakistan and worked in Saudi Arabia before coming to Britain in 2004. She had noticed bruises on Baby P's body.
In a statement last week made through the Medical Protection Society, which gives professional indemnity, she said: "Like everyone involved in this case, I have been deeply affected by the shocking and tragic circumstances of this young child's death.
"My professional career has been devoted to the care of children. I will co-operate with any investigation to identify whether lessons can be learnt from this case."
Reader views (11)
This whole saga should be a learning curve for some GPs and consultants who harldly take any notice in identfying a patient's diagnosis properly before prescribing paracetamol.
- Solomon Menya, Feltham,Middx
Sorraya - it's Haringey Council at the centre of the scandal, not Hackney. Maybe you should get your facts right before getting angry at the wrong borough.
- Mary, London, UK
Looks like all who expressed views have found a 'scapegoat'and full wrath has been directed to her of course with a racial tinge and perhaps uneasiness on the level of pay. Of course the doctor should be suspended and fully investigated, but the fact remains that baby p has died at the hands of his mother and the people who should have been caring for him.
- M Armstrong, Coventry, UK
Well hopefully this woman will never be allowed into the same job or any job that will put children at risk because she is just totally incompetent as the rest of those who are highly paid at doing nothing!!
It took along time to suspend her..........She should have been arrested for not noticing Baby P had a broken back...........As well as all the rest of his bruicing!!
She will have to live with this for a very long time!
I just hope they have the sense to get rid of her.
- Valerie, Hanworth Middlesex
This doctor as well as whole medical system,social services dept of Haringey Council etc failed this poor child. These people are paid hugh salaries but fail to do their jobs properly. They should all be sacked for gross incompetence. Perhaps all the back pay that's due to them should go to a memorial fund for Baby P. This money can be used to help victims of abuse, especially innocent little children.
- Humphrey Thornicroft, Perth Western Australia
Watch out these kinds of people are very good at turning things around to their benefit. Let's wait and see who she sues for millions. The idiots will give her the money as well. It's too bad the councils don't put as much energy into things like baby P as they do in these stupid binneys
- D.J..Lamb, Lakewood, CO
SIXTY visits and nothing was done to protect baby P. These people are happy to take on large salaries but not do their job.
- Mariam, Goodmayes, Essex
Come on Sorraya think this through and don't generalise. This "consultant" failed to diagnose extensive injuries when assessing the child this was a gross error. She was not being required to try to draw conclusions in the fog of this dysfunctional family where police and social workers were working, they needed hard evidence. She was the one professional who is central to identifying the childs injuries.
- Frank, Dorchester Dorset
I hope that this doctor is not suspended on full pay as so often happens in these cases.Most people making this magnatude oferrors in the manufactuing industry would be dismissed straight away unless of course they were part of managment
- Rob, swindon england
They have suspended her registration until February when they will reconsider it (once all of the hubbub has died down presumably).
- Bob, Cheam
Well, if this doctor has been sacked, the others from HACKNEY council should follow suit,they are all hopeless
and incapable of their their jobs, SHAME ON THEM ALL.
Sorraya
- Sorraya, croydon
