UK NEWS

DOCTOR HOW HELPED TO SAVE HOULLIER MAY BE STRUCK OFF

HOULLIER: Had emergency surgery

Monday June 4,2007

By Chris Riches

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A DOCTOR praised by ex-Liverpool FC manager Gerard Houllier for saving his life faces being struck off for allegedly switching off power to life-support machines while operations took place.

Dr James Murphy was in the team at Liverpool’s Cardiothoracic Centre (CTC) who operated on Houllier’s heart after he collapsed during a match in 2001.

But now Murphy has been accused by the General Medical Council of causing “potential harm to a patient” for shutting down anaesthetics machinery during operating theatre sessions.

It is claimed that during three dangerous operations Murphy switched machines off – to show trainees how to use back-up equipment. It is alleged the clinical tutor in the centre’s anaesthetics department never got consent from the patients and also never checked whether the machines had batteries to keep patients alive if switched off at the mains.

The GMC’s summary of allegations concludes: “Dr Murphy’s conduct was inappropriate, unacceptable, not in the best interests of the patient and below the standard expected of a registered medical practitioner.”

After his successful surgery Houllier spoke highly of the care he had received from the surgeons and his anaesthetist Dr Murphy.

Yesterday, the CTC declined to say whether Dr Murphy had been allowed to continue in his current role since the allegations were made, but it is understood he is currently off work with an unrelated illness.

A spokeswoman for the hospital Trust said Dr Murphy had declined to comment on the allegations.

She added: “As the hearing has not yet taken place, the Trust feels it would not be appropriate to comment at this stage.”

A panel of doctors will now investigate the circumstances around the alleged incidents in February and May 2005 which led to the accusations being made.

They will decide if he is fit to continue practising medicine.

The panel hearing, due to last up to a week at the GMC in Manchester, will decide what action, if any, is necessary against Dr Murphy, who first registered as a medical practitioner in 1982 after studying in Sheffield.

A spokesman for the GMC said: “We cannot give any more details about the allegation or case until the hearing begins on Monday, when the doctor involved will be given the opportunity to say whether he agrees or disagrees with the accusations.”

The Cardiothoracic Centre is based next to Broadgreen Hospital in Liverpool, but operates independently of the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Hospitals NHS Trust, and is run by The Cardiothoracic Centre Liverpool NHS Trust.

It is one of the largest specialist heart and chest hospitals in the UK, serving more than 2.8million people in Merseyside, Lancashire, Cheshire and North Wales.