Guilty Verdict for Doctor in Martha's Death, Where Warning Signs Were Missed

Strategic Insights -

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) has found a senior doctor guilty of misconduct in the treatment of 13-year-old Martha Mills, whose death led to the introduction of Martha's Rule, which gives patients the right to a second medical opinion in English hospitals. The doctor, Prof Richard Thompson, was found to have failed to escalate Martha's treatment to an intensive care unit or to conduct a direct in-person review and assessment, despite recognizing warning signs of her rapidly deteriorating condition. The tribunal will reconvene on Tuesday to consider a sanction for Thompson.

Key Takeaways:

  • Prof Richard Thompson, a specialist in pediatric liver disease, was found guilty of misconduct in relation to his treatment of Martha Mills on 29 August 2021.
  • The disciplinary panel concluded that Thompson's omissions were "particularly grave" and amounted to gross negligence, impairing his fitness to practise.
  • Martha's parents had asked doctors to transfer their daughter to intensive care earlier, but their requests were ignored.
  • The coroner's ruling in 2022 stated that Martha would most likely have survived if doctors had identified warning signs and transferred her to intensive care earlier.
  • Martha's Rule gives patients the right to a second medical opinion in English hospitals, following her parents' public advocacy for her case.
  • The tribunal found that Thompson's actions were "no sound reason" for not taking required actions to ensure Martha's safety, and that he failed to take necessary steps to prevent a serious outcome.

Statistics:

  • Martha was 13 years old when she died on 31 August 2021.
  • The coroner's ruling stated that Martha would most likely have survived if doctors had identified warning signs and transferred her to intensive care 24 hours earlier.
  • Martha's parents have spoken out about their experience, which led to the introduction of their daughter's rule in 2022.
  • According to a serious incident report, Martha was transferred to intensive care at King's College hospital on 30 August 2021 with septic shock.

Sources:

  • The Guardian
  • Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS)
  • Coroner's ruling
  • Serious incident report produced for King's College hospital