INCREDIBLE NHS BUNGLE

But what an incredible survivor the baby is!

A health board has launched an investigation after a mother underwent an operation to remove her "dead" unborn baby only to be told three weeks later that she was still pregnant. Julie Brown, 28, is considering legal action against hospital directors after she was informed wrongly that her baby had died and was given an operation under general anaesthetic to remove the child.

Mrs Brown, from Livingston in West Lothian, said yesterday that she was given a scan five and a half weeks into her pregnancy after suffering from stomach pains. She was told by medical staff that the baby's heartbeat could not be found and that the child had died inside her. The next day she checked into St John's Hospital, in Livingston, for dilation and curettage treatment to remove the dead child, a highly invasive procedure that involves scraping the uterus lining.

She said that her husband and two children had been devastated when they were told that the baby had died, especially her eight-year-old daughter. Mrs Brown, who had already suffered two miscarriages, said: "I had to explain to my two kids and my husband that the baby had died and they were in floods of tears. "Sarah was distraught because she was so much looking forward to having a baby brother or sister to look after."

However, last week Mrs Brown went to see her GP because she was still suffering from sickness and other symptoms of pregnancy. Blood tests showed that pregnancy hormone levels were still very high and she was sent to hospital for a scan this week. She said: "A scan on Monday showed my baby was still intact and growing healthily. I was confused, angry, worried and elated all at the same time." Mrs Brown, who is now nine weeks pregnant, said that she was considering legal action against NHS Lothian. "The hospital has given me no reasons or answers, they have told me absolutely nothing. I don't know how it has happened," she said. She added that she was worried because pregnant women should not be given a general anaesthetic or undergo surgery that could damage the foetus. "I will be constantly worrying until I give birth to the baby and see that it is all right because I have been given a general anesthetic, painkillers and antibiotics," she said.

Mrs Brown's husband, Dan, 28, said: "It's ridiculous that something like this can happen. It's going to be a difficult time but I'm sure we will get through it." He added: "I just don't know how this could have happened with such a violent and intrusive operation."

NHS Lothian apologised to Mrs Brown over the mistake yesterday and said that it had started an investigation. Mike Grieve, the director of operations at St John's Hospital, said: "I immediately wish to apologise for any distress to Mrs Brown and her family. "We have not yet received a formal complaint but an informal investigation was launched as soon as her case was brought to my attention." He added: "It would be inappropriate of me to comment on the specific circumstances while this is taking place."

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Medical Board faces multi-million-dollar payouts over bogus psychiatrist

About time

The advisory board that allowed rogue surgeon Jayant Patel to operate is now facing multi-million-dollar lawsuits over the treatment of hundreds of patients by a bogus Russian psychiatrist. In the first court case against the Medical Board of Queensland arising out of the so-called Dr Death scandal, three patients of Vincent Berg are seeking damages over his counselling and the medication he prescribed for their conditions. The lawsuits were filed this month. Mr Berg, 54, is undergoing treatment at a psychiatric ward on the Gold Coast.

A teenager who is one of the claimants in the civil action was diagnosed as having a mental condition by Mr Berg during a home visit to his mother. Mother and son have claimed they were prescribed dangerous and inappropriate drugs by Mr Berg, who treated 259 patients during his year's employment at Townsville hospital in 2000.

Despite hospital authorities learning that Mr Berg's Russian qualifications were fake in late 2002, his former patients were informed only through the Morris and Davis inquiries that arose out of the Dr Death scandal. The inquiries heard that authorities took the decision not to tell patients about Mr Berg because they feared it could lead to them stopping their medication and counselling or even attempting suicide. A Queensland Health spokesman said an immediate review was launched of "all of MrBerg's patients that could befound".

The three former patients - one of whom claims she has attempted suicide three times as a result of Mr Berg's treatment and medication - are seeking more than $1 million in damages. It is understood more of Mr Berg's former patients are also considering legal action. Any payouts would come from Queensland Government's insurance fund. The patients have been forced to file the court actions after being excluded from the special mediation process extended to former patients of Dr Patel, who is now living in the US.

Earlier this week, Queensland Attorney-General Linda Lavarch said 86 claims for compensation by patients of Dr Patel had already been settled. Almost three hundred patients are understood to be involved in the out-of-court mediation.

In the court action, the Medical Board has been accused of failing to check that Mr Berg's qualifications, purportedly from a Russian university, were "true and not forgeries". The Medical Board is charged with checking doctors' qualifications before registering them for practice. A spokeswoman for the board, which is funded by registration fees, declined to comment because the matters were now in "the hands of the insurer". The lawsuit claims that Queensland Health also failed to supervise Mr Berg adequately. Tia Cox, whose firm Connolly Suthers is representing all three alleged victims, declined to comment.

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For greatest efficiency, lowest cost and maximum choice, ALL hospitals and health insurance schemes should be privately owned and run -- with government-paid vouchers for the very poor and minimal regulation. Both Australia and Sweden have large private sector health systems with government reimbursement for privately-provided services so can a purely private system with some level of government reimbursement or insurance for the poor be so hard to do?

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