Navy surgeon operated on schoolboy’s, 12, penis without parents’ consent during hernia surgery because it ‘didn’t look normal’
A Navy surgeon carried out an operation on a 12-year-old’s penis “without permission” from his parents during a hernia surgery.
Commander Anthony Lambert – who was working at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth – reportedly told the boy’s parents that he had operated without consulting them because he was “a bit of a nosey t***” and thought it “didn’t look normal”.
After appearing in front of a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service he has been suspended for six months over his “deplorable” actions.
The “extremely senior and respected practitioner” was performing an umbilical hernia repair on the schoolboy on April 20, 2016.
The child – referred to only as Patient A – was unconscious under general anaesthetic.
According to the NHS, umbilical hernias are very common in infants and young children.
However, while Cdr Lambert was carrying out the procedure, he undertook a “freeing of preputial adhesions” on the boy’s penis.
Preputial adhesions is a common skin condition which can cause discomfort and difficulty retracting the foreskin.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Appeal judges to rule on case of trans woman admitted to US university’s sororityArmed police officer rushed to hospital after being shot with a CROSSBOW‘Outrageous!’ Pupil suspended from school for using term ‘illegal alien’ in class
An operation to remove them usually involves cutting away at the tissue but adhesions can fade on their own and only require surgery if the person is in pain.
The court heard that the Navy surgeon made an “inappropriate” comment explaining his actions, he said: “…because I am a bit of a nosey t*** I noticed that [Patient A]’s penis did not look quite normal”.
Patient A’s mother submitted a formal complaint that the surgery had been carried out “without Patient A, Mrs B or her husband’s knowledge or consent”.
The hearing was told he had been investigated in 2014 for “expletive language” used in front of nursing staff, patients and patients’ parents.
Another complaint was made in October 2018 by a Foundation Year 1 trainee.
He admitted making comments which were “foul and abusive”, “aggressive and intimidating”, “bullying in nature and derogatory” towards patients and healthcare professionals.
The panel said: “The Tribunal concluded that this misconduct was serious – obtaining consent before carrying out a procedure or physical investigation on a patient is a fundamental tenet of the medical profession.
“The Tribunal reminded itself that Cdr Lambert was refused consent by Patient A and his parents on two separate occasions.
“It noted that the procedure was not urgent and [Cdr] Lambert could have waited to ensure that he obtained parental consent without posing any risk to the patient.”