Patient shocked by heart operation probe

Jun 6 2007 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

A PATIENT from Wirral who underwent a triple heart bypass has told of his shock at learning almost a year later that his anaesthetic machine had been turned off during his operation.

Noel Nolan, 66, had been operated on at Liverpool’s Cardiothoracic Centre two years ago and was never told there had been anything unusual in the procedure while he was in hospital.

But, 11 months later, he received a letter from the hospital saying an investigation had taken place within the Trust and there had been a “brief interruption” to his anaesthetic supply.

It later turned out this had been part of a training exercise which Mr Nolan knew nothing about, and the couple have said they are shocked this could be done on a patient undergoing major life-saving surgery.

This week, Dr James Murphy, a clinical tutor and rota master within the Anaesthetic Department, is facing a General Medical Council (GMC) hearing to answer a string of allegations that he may have put patients’ health in danger.

Mr Nolan, of Albert Street, New Brighton, said: “It was 11 months before we knew anything about it. I was knocked out most of the time.”

Mr Nolan was operated on in May, 2005, six months after the former lorry driver had suffered a heart attack.

His partner, Angela Gee, said: “They never said anything all the time he was in there.”

Since the operation, Mr Nolan has suffered from pain to his oesophagus and has lost weight, although there is no suggestion this is connected to the incident during his operation.

He and Ms Gee met with the anaesthetist, Dr Murphy, following the letter which informed them of what had happened during his operation.

Subsequently, a letter from the hospital’s director of nursing and operations, Jan Walters, was sent confirming the details of the con-versation, in which Mr Nolan was told that Dr Murphy intended to demonstrate to another doctor what would happen if electricity supply to the anaesthetic machine was interrupted.

The “Cato” anaesthetic machine has a battery back-up in case of any problem with electricity supply, and an alarm sounds alerting the anaesthetist of the problem.

The letter said: “To do this, Dr Murphy disconnected the electricity supply to the machine and left the theatre. Unfortunately, the battery back-up did not ‘kick in’ and the anaesthetic registrar immediately took steps to ensure that your oxygen supply was maintained.

“Dr Murphy then returned to the theatre, and the anaesthetic machine was reconnected to the electricity supply. At no time were you deprived of oxygen and your operation proceeded uneventfully.”

Last night, Ms Gee said her partner had “never been the same” since the operation.

She added: “They told us an investigation had taken place and steps taken to ensure this doesn’t happen again.

“But no-one told us it was going to go before the GMC or being further investigated.”

In 2001, Dr Murphy was part of a team of specialists at the hospital, which saved the life of former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier.

At the GMC hearing in Manchester, it is claimed the consultant anaesthetist switched off the mains supply to anaesthetics machinery during procedures in the operating theatre on three separate occasions as part of a training exercise, without patients’ consent.

After the Daily Post revealed the allegations against Dr Murphy, a spokeswoman for the Cardiothoracic Centre – Liverpool NHSTrust said he had declined to comment, and added: “As the hearing has not yet taken place, the Trust feels it would not be appropriate to comment at this stage.”

The hearing is expected to last throughout this week, during which a panel of doctors will investigate the circumstances around alleged incidents in February and May, 2005, which led to the accusations being made.

liammurphy