Michael Hayton QC Successfully Represents Dr Bawa-Garba

Michael Hayton QC, instructed by Tim Johnson Law, represented Dr Bawa-Garba before the MPTS on 9 April 2019.

Dr Bawa-Garba was convicted in 2015 of the gross negligence manslaughter of a 6 year old boy in her care at a Leicestershire hospital and sentenced to a suspended sentence of imprisonment. Subsequently a Fitness to Practice Panel found her fitness to practice to be impaired and suspended her.

The GMC appealed that decision to the Administrative Court which replaced the suspension with erasure, but the Court of Appeal headed by the Lord Chief Justice allowed an appeal by the Doctor and once more ordered her to be suspended.

At a review hearing this week the suspension was replaced with conditions that will allow the Doctor to return to practice later this year.

Tribunal chairwoman Claire Sharp said the chance of Dr Bawa-Garba putting another patient at unwarranted risk of harm was low and she had undertaken a “significant” amount of remediation.

During the hearing, Dr Bawa-Garba said: “I am sorry for my failure to recognise sepsis. “I apologise for the pain I have caused the family, the pain will live with me for the rest of my life.”