Outcry over ban on 'sleeping' doc

Jul 26 2007 By Alison Dayani, Birmingham Mail

A SENIOR Birmingham hospital doctor who fell asleep during an operation and watched an action film during another has been banned from working for just one month.

Governing body The General Medical Council ruled consultant anaesthetist Dr Christopher Vella Bonnici could return to work at Selly Oak Hospital after a one month suspension.

Malta-born Bonnici, who is in 50s, from Lydiate Ash, near Bromsgrove, was found guilty of falling asleep in theatre when he should have been monitoring a patient's statistics after putting them to sleep in June 2005.

The panel also penalised the anaesthetist for watching a DVD of an action film on his laptop during an operation in September 2003.

The GMC panel, sitting in Manchester, said the suspension was justified because they believed Bonnici would not repeat his "unprofessional behaviour".

But Birmingham health watchdog's Coun Deirdre Alden said the punishment was not harsh enough.

"I am absolutely appalled as a one month suspension is not enough for an anaesthetist who put lives at risk," said Coun Alden, chairwoman of the city's health scrutiny committee.

"I expect medical professionals to do their best to look after patients and a rogue one like this causes people to lose faith in hospitals."

The Birmingham Mail revealed in July 2005 that operating assistants made the sleeping complaint to hospital bosses and were believed to have snapped the medic on the camera of their mobile phone.

Bonnici, who qualified as a doctor in 1973 in Malta, has worked at Selly Oak Hospital for at least ten years and carried out private work as an anaesthetist across the city.

A GMC panel spokesman told Bonnici: "You told the panel that you regret taking your laptop into theatre and watching the DVD. You now recognise that this was unacceptable, you have learnt from the experience and not repeated the behaviour.

"The panel accepts the view that it is not an intentional act to fall asleep. This caused you considerable professional embarrassment and we are satisfied the experience has been such, that it is unlikely to be repeated.

"Bonnici's conduct has been unprofessional, irresponsible and below the standard expected of a consultant anaesthetist, but the panel is satisfied he demonstrated a degree of insight into his misconduct and has demonstrated remorse."

Bonnici's suspension starts from August 14.

University Hospital Trust, which employs Bonnici at the Birmingham hospitals, held its own internal inquiry last year but found "no convincing evidence" that the doctor had fallen asleep and he was allowed to continue working under supervision.

A trust spokeswoman said: "The trust is carefully considering the verdict of the GMC and the implications for the services it provides."

Dr Bonnici could not be contacted for comment.