A doctor who is being investigated for allegedly harming hundreds of children has been removed as a featured speaker from a health conference.
Great Ormond Street children’s hospital in London has launched an urgent review of the care of 721 children who are thought to have received botched treatment from one of its former consultant orthopaedic surgeons, Yaser Jabbar.
Jabbar was booked to speak at the Middle East and north Africa (MENA) International Orthopaedic Congress in Dubai, where he now lives and works, in July, but reference to his attendance has been removed from the conference’s website since news of the investigation emerged on Sunday.
The organisers told MailOnline: “Upon learning about the allegations made against Dr Jabbar, the MENA Orthopaedic Congress organisers and committee collectively decided to remove Dr Jabbar’s presentation from the programme, and therefore Dr Jabbar is no longer part of the congress speaker faculty.”
Jabbar’s LinkedIn page states that he is employed by the orthopaedic specialists Orthocure in the UAE, but there is no reference to him on the company’s website.
Great Ormond Street hospital said it commissioned an external review of its paediatric orthopaedic service by the Royal College of Surgeons in 2022 “after concerns were raised by a number of our patient families and staff”. The hospital has since launched its own review of 721 children who received care.
Of the 39 cases reviewed so far, 15 patients had come to no harm, nine had suffered “low to moderate harm” and 13 had come to “severe harm” that was likely to include lifelong injuries, the hospital said.
Lawyers representing families of the children said the cases of harm included incorrect surgeries, leg length discrepancies, nerve injuries and one amputation.
Caroline Murgatroyd, of Hudgell Solicitors, said: “We have had a significant number of families come forward to seek advice and to share their concerns since the scale of this investigation was made public at the weekend.
“What’s particularly shocking is the sheer number of children affected, and the fact that this is a world-renowned hospital, and one which people had complete faith and trust in.
“Families placed their complete trust in the hospital and the surgeon to do their best for their children, which is completely understandable. They have so many unanswered questions as to how and why this was ever able to happen.”
She urged Great Ormond Street hospital to provide the full Royal College of Surgeons report as soon as possible. At present, the hospital has said it will provide an executive summary in December.
“[Families] have the right to be told the full story, and under the duty of candour, that is what we would expect the trust to do. Given the report was concluded last year, it should have been shared already. We will certainly be asking it be sent to all clients who have instructed us,” Murgatroyd said.
Jabbar is reported to be an expert in limb reconstruction but has not had a licence to practise medicine in the UK since 8 January, according to the General Medical Council, which noted that there were a range of reasons why a doctor may relinquish their licence, including retirement, moving abroad or deciding to pursue other work.
Jabbar has been approached for comment.
