19-month-old girl died from cancer just weeks after doctor TWICE misdiagnosed a deadly tumour as constipation
- Unnamed 19-month-old toddler was misdiagnosed twice by Dr Abdul Bhutto
- Doctor prescribed constipation medication when girl suffered from cancer
A 19-month-old girl died from cancer weeks after a doctor misdiagnosed a tumour in her bowel as constipation.
The toddler, who has not been named, was seen at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, twice by Dr Abdul Bhutto.
On both occasions he prescribed constipation medication, despite the youngster’s mother finding a blood clot in the child’s nappy.
The girl was actually suffering from neuroblastoma, a rare cancer that affects babies and children.
Nine days after her second visit, she collapsed and was taken to Glasgow for specialist treatment but later died.
A 19-month-old girl died from cancer after being misdiagnosed twice at Raigmore Hospital (pictured)
Dr Bhutto, a doctor with almost 40 years’ experience, was working as a locum in paediatrics. He has been suspended for a month by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service after being found guilty of serious misconduct.
The tribunal found Dr Bhutto failed to take into account ‘information provided by family members’. He also failed to get a second opinion or arrange X-rays. The mother first brought the toddler to hospital on October 20, 2019, after spotting the blood clot and a lump in the child’s stomach. Dr Bhutto prescribed an enema.
He saw the toddler, referred to as Patient A, a second time, on November 6, and again diagnosed constipation.
The girl died on November 25, five weeks after she was first seen. An expert paediatrician who reviewed the case said in a report: ‘Care fell seriously below standard in Dr Bhutto’s lack of adequate examination skills.
‘Patient A was therefore not diagnosed at a time when management of the tumour could have taken place, before she became critically ill.’
In a letter to the tribunal, Dr Bhutto said he was ‘very sorry for her tragic outcome’.
He continued: ‘I accept my mistakes, have educated myself and will continue to keep up to date to ensure that no mistakes of this nature are repeated.’
NHS Highland offered its ‘sincere condolences’ to the family and confirmed Dr Bhutto no longer works for NHS Highland.
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