RCS comment on David Sellu ruling
07 Mar 2018
A spokesperson for the Royal College of Surgeons said:
“We strongly welcome news that the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service has revoked restrictions on David Sellu’s practice and ruled that no tribunal considering his fitness to practise can proceed.
“The Royal College of Surgeons welcomed news in 2016 that judges found David Sellu was wrongly convicted of gross negligence manslaughter. Many in the surgical community were greatly concerned by the case.
“Wrongful convictions only harm the NHS’ efforts to improve patient care and culture, as well as efforts to seek justice where it is correctly deserved.
“First and foremost our health and legal systems must protect patients from avoidable and unnecessary harm. However, they should do this while being clear about the difference between gross negligence manslaughter, basic human error in medical practice, and where the health care system in which the doctor is working is to blame.
“This ruling, following the recent Bawa-Garba case, underlines the urgent need for the application of manslaughter by gross negligence to be clarified and reformed. The GMC and Department of Health and Social Care reviews must identify important learning opportunities and shed light on how cases are initiated and investigated. David Sellu’s case should now form part of these reviews.”
Notes to editors
The Royal College of Surgeons of England is a professional membership organisation and registered charity, which exists to advance surgical standards and improve patient care.
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