BBC News, Tuesday, 21 August, 2001, 17:42 GMT 18:42 UK
Circumcision doctors 'abused position'
A retired surgeon who botched circumcision operations on two baby boys has been found guilty of abusing his professional position. The General Medical Council decided that obstetrician Mr Peter Silverstone had acted inappropriately and irresponsibly.
It has also ruled that the GP who referred the boys on had similarly abused his position.
A GMC disciplinary hearing heard that Mr Silverstone, of Newcastle upon Tyne, failed to properly anaesthetise the six and seven month old children during the operations which were carried out in 1998.
The GMC ruled against the doctors
Howled in pain
One infant howled in pain throughout the 25 minute
procedure, and the other bled for hours afterwards.
Zoe Johnson from the GMC said that Mr Silverstone was not
sufficiently expert in the procedure.
While he had carried out religious circumcisions, he was
not experienced in carrying them out for medical reasons.
The GMC also found against GP Dr Michael Harbinson, of
Rowlands Gill, Tyne and Wear, who referred the babies'
mothers to the surgeon.
The hearing heard that Dr Harbinson had pressurised one of
the mothers into agreeing to the surgery, presenting the
option of circumcision as a fait accompli.
The hearing will now consider whether the doctors are
guilty of serious professional misconduct.
Mr Peter Silverstone carried out the operations
Dr Michael Harbinson referred the boys to Mr Silverstone
Cite as:
Circumcision doctors 'abused position'. BBC News, London, 21 August 2001.
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