A doctor accused of leaving a seriously-ill woman at a private hospital while he left to work at St George's Hospital in Tooting, has been found not guilty of serious professional misconduct.

The Professional Conduct Committee of the General Medical Council (GMC) concluded there was insufficient evidence to support such a finding in the case of consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Graham Barker.

The GMC alleged that in February 1993, at the New Victoria Hospital, Kingston, Mr Barker failed to recognise that a woman he had operated on, to remove an ovarian cyst, had a perforated bladder. She died of a heart attack three days afterwards.

It was also alleged he decided to go to St George's "notwithstanding the seriousness of her condition" and that his actions "fell below the standards expected of a registered medical practitioner".

The committee, however, agreed with Mr Barker's counsel, Mr Bernard Livesey QC, who said: "On the premises there were doctors carrying out other operations, but also in attendance their own anaesthetists, and quite probably anaesthetist assistants. It's very unfortunate when a consultant is called out but the fact is there wasn't anything gynaecological to be done at that stage."

Mr Livesey also referred to pathology reports stating that the bladder perforation had been caused due to the insertion of a catheter by a member of the medical team, and occurring some time after Mr Barker had operated.

In a statement Mr Barker told the Borough News: "I would like to express my sincere sympathy to the family of the patient for their distress.

"I fully accept the ruling of the GMC and will take their advice into account in my future practice. This has been a stressful time for myself and my family and I am naturally relieved this matter is now concluded."

December 13, 2001 15:30