Prominent orthopaedic surgeon Yaser Jabbar investigated for his care of children at Great Ormond Street Hospital

Posted: 13/09/2024

Investigations are continuing into the conduct of Mr Yaser Jabbar, a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), the leading NHS children’s hospital in London. It has been suggested that Mr Jabbar ‘botched’ operations, resulting in severe injuries to his patients and causing some to have amputations and significant leg length inequality.

A review of his practice is underway at the hospital which has disclosed that he treated 721 patients there up until leaving the trust in 2022. Of the 39 children that have so far been assessed as part of the urgent review, 22 patients have been identified as having suffered some degree of harm, while 13 were assessed as sustaining life-long injuries. One patient required an amputation of his leg, which may have been avoidable, and others have experienced leg length differences of up to 20cm. There are also questions about the specific procedures or treatments that led to the harm, and whether they were necessary or appropriately performed. The surgeon has not been registered to practise medicine in the UK since January 2024.

Concerns have been raised about the surgeon’s competence as well as how the hospital allowed him to continue practising despite, it is understood, patients’ families raising issues and making complaints. The current review follows a confidential investigation by the Royal College of Surgeons, which identified concerns surrounding Mr Jabbar’s practice.

Arran Macleod, a solicitor in the clinical negligence team at Penningetons Manches Cooper specialising in orthopaedic negligence claims, comments: The revelation that a high proportion of Mr Jabbar’s patients have been found to have come to some degree of harm is worrying and suggests that, once the full review of his 726 patients is complete, many more children will have been identified as suffering avoidable injuries under his care. It is also understood that Mr Jabbar worked as a private surgeon in London, and it is therefore possible that many more, private, patients will have come to harm.”

Penningtons Manches Cooper specialises in supporting patients who have sustained injuries as a result of medical negligence by helping them to understand what has happened and exploring their options for improving their clinical outcome and obtaining compensation for their injuries through the claims process.

Having worked on a range of cases involving surgeons accused of performing unnecessary procedures, the clinical negligence team has access to a pool of esteemed orthopaedic and other medical specialists who can provide impartial opinions on the necessity of treatments and the quality of surgery performed.

In general, there is a three year limitation period for clinical negligence claims. However, it is important to note that, where the claim relates to a child, the three year limitation date does not begin to run until the child’s 18th birthday. 

If you or a member of your family have concerns about care received from Mr Jabbar, please do not hesitate to contact the clinical negligence team for an initial, no obligation discussion about your options.

This article was co-written by Astor Chan, trainee solicitor in the clinical negligence team.

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