A HARPENDEN doctor was found guilty of serious misconduct on Tuesday after a series of blunders during a fatal operation to cure a young sportswoman s excessive sweating. Anaesthetist Dr Wasfy Yanny of Penny Croft failed to do anything to control Louise

A HARPENDEN doctor was found guilty of "serious misconduct" on Tuesday after a series of blunders during a fatal operation to cure a young sportswoman's excessive sweating.

Anaesthetist Dr Wasfy Yanny of Penny Croft failed to do anything to control Louise Field's dipping oxygen levels, the General Medical Council (GMC) heard.

Mrs Field, 27, died two days after vascular surgeon Dr Michael Ormiston accidentally punctured her lung and pumped gas into her stomach at the Bupa Hospital, Harpenden, on March 20, 2002.

When the trainee accountant was rushed to another hospital, Dr Yanny gave no indication she might have neurological problems - likely given her lack of oxygen.

He also failed to inform the specialist registrar at Hemel Hempstead General Hospital about the drugs given or provide an anaesthetic chart.

Dr Yanny later spoke to Mrs Field's worried family saying, "these things happened" and offered no apology.

A post mortem revealed Mrs Field died from a lack of blood supply to the brain caused by damage to her lungs where a pathologist found a puncture wound.

GMC panel chairman Brian Alderman said Dr Yanny's management of the case was 'inappropriate, not in the best interests of the patient, and below the standards expected of a medical practitioner.'

He said: "Having taken into account all the circumstances of this case, the panel has determined that your failings amount to serious misconduct and that your fitness to practise is impaired by reason of that misconduct."

Drs Yanny and Ormiston had faced a total of 41 charges relating to their actions at the Bupa hospital. They both denied their conduct fell below the standard of a medical practitioner but the case against them was found proved.

Dr Yanny's case is now being heard this week while Dr Ormiston will have to wait until later this year before hearing his fate.

Sarah Plaschkes, for the GMC, said: "This is a particularly tragic case both as regards the outcome and age of the patient.

"In our submission there is no material before the panel which could satisfy it that Dr Yanny's behaviour would be different if the same situation arose again. There is a continued risk to patients."

The GMC panel was due to consider what sanction to impose this morning (Thurs).