Surgeon amputates toe without consent

A doctor failed to tell a patient that he had amputated her toe during a botched operation, the General Medical Council heard today.

Susan Gourlay said she only discovered her little toe was missing 10 days after the procedure. "I was absolutely horrified and disgusted. I really couldn't believe that it had actually happened," she told the central London hearing.

Dr Irfan Masud, 37, should have removed a section of bone from Mrs Gourlay's little toe on her left foot after she stubbed it on a chair leg in December 1996.

But when a large piece of soft tissue came away with the bone he took the decision to amputate, having accidentally severed the blood vessels. He said he had been unable to find a consultant for advice at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

After the operation Dr Masud, from Southgate, did not tell Mrs Gourlay what had happened-although she remained in hospital until the following evening. Dr Masud claimed he had to rush off to a meeting at another hospital.

Mrs Gourlay said: "It was like a conspiracy of silence. Everyone makes mistakes but not to be told about them is dishonest."

She said she had taken 12 weeks off work "because I could not face people after what had been done to me". Despite seeking help from a psychiatrist, she added, she still did not like anyone to see her bare feet and had stopped going to the gym.

Dr Masud, who denies serious professional misconduct, admitted a charge of not being able to carry out the operation with the degree of skill that his patient could expect.

He also admitted that he had behaved irresponsibly by not telling Mrs Gourlay he had amputated her toe.

The hearing continues.